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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
81
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 383g - 122 x 84 x 49mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M10 III
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
  • Released June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M10 IV (20MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-M10 IV was announced 10 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M10 IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-M10 IV scores against the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Sony NEX-3

 E-M10 IV NEX-3 
ReleasedAugust 2020June 2010Fresher by 124 months
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 NEX-3 E-M10 IV 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony NEX-3

 E-M10 IV NEX-3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M10 IV enjoys outer dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M10 IV compared to the NEX-3.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 IV and NEX-3 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 IV and NEX-3.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M10 IV having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus E-M10 IV will give you extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-M10 IV is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography information
77
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
73
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
52
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
85
has bluetooth
supports focus via touch
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
59
good megapixels (14MP)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography features
83
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 IV
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
78
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
no microphone port
27
features face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IVSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2020-08-04 2010-06-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 8.7fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.20 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash modes Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 383 gr (0.84 lb) 297 gr (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 360 photos 330 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $699 $0