Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65
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94 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Key Specs
(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
- Released October 2013
- Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
- 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
- Launched January 2009
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Overview
Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony G3, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and G3 (10MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and G3 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.
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The E-M1 was launched 4 years after the G3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.
Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M1 grades vs the G3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony G3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony G3
E-M1 | G3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | October 2013 | ![]() | January 2009 | More modern by 59 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 921k | Clearer display (+116k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Olympus E-M1
G3 | E-M1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display size | 3.5" | ![]() | 3" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony G3
E-M1 | G3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither features selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony G3 has dimensions of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-M1 and Sony G3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 against the G3.
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Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and G3 is 71 and 94 respectively.
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The pic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and G3.
All in all, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-M1 will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The younger E-M1 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony G3 Specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 |
Type | Pro Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Released | 2013-10-28 | 2009-01-08 |
Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | TruePIC VII | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3648 x 2736 |
Max native ISO | 25600 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 81 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 35-140mm (4.0x) |
Max aperture | - | f/3.5-10.0 |
Number of lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3 inches | 3.5 inches |
Display resolution | 1,037k dots | 921k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dots | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.74x | - |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 1s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/1000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 10.0 frames per second | 2.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 4.30 m (Auto ISO) |
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 reduction, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/320s | - |
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) | 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 640x480 |
Video data format | H.264, Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 497 gr (1.10 pounds) | 185 gr (0.41 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") | 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 73 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 23.0 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.7 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 757 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 350 pictures | - |
Battery style | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | BLN-1 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Pricing at launch | $799 | $200 |