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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony NEX-3, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 3 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M1 grades against the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony NEX-3

 E-M1 NEX-3 
LaunchedOctober 2013June 2010Newer by 42 months
Display resolution1037k920kClearer display (+117k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus E-M1

 NEX-3 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-3

 E-M1 NEX-3 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 provides external measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 vs the NEX-3.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and NEX-3 is 71 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking specifications. The pic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and NEX-3.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus E-M1 will give you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
72
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than competitors in class (497g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography advice
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (350 shots)
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors in class (497g)
environment proofing
includes touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
good MP (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography factors
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery power (350 shots)
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
lighter than competitors in class (497 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
27
offers face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-10-28 2010-06-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lbs) 297g (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 68
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.0
DXO Low light rating 757 830
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 330 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $0