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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 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
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony NEX-C3, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was released 2 years later than the NEX-C3 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-M1 grades against the NEX-C3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony NEX-C3

 E-M1 NEX-C3 
ReleasedOctober 2013August 2011More recent by 27 months
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus E-M1

 NEX-C3 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-C3

 E-M1 NEX-C3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 against the NEX-C3.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and NEX-C3 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and NEX-C3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The E-M1 offers the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging. The newer E-M1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography highlights
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (350 shots)
53
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (400 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Sony NEX-C3
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
environment proof
supports touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
not so great battery (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
great battery power (400 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (225 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery (350 shots)
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging highlights
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
27
lighter than others in class (225g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-10-28 2011-08-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 port
Headphone port
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) 225g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 73
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.2
DXO Low light rating 757 1083
Other
Battery life 350 images 400 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $799 $343