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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M10 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
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-M10 and Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M10 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M10 was introduced 3 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-M10 grades versus the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-M10 NEX-3 
LaunchedMarch 2014June 2010Newer by 46 months
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 NEX-3 E-M10 

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

 E-M10 NEX-3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 features outside dimensions of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M10 and Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M10 and the NEX-3.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 and NEX-3 is 82 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 and NEX-3.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M10 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-M10 will resolve greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The newer E-M10 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M10
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
heavier than others (396 grams)
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
52
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography features
67
supports focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than others (396g)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography information
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
68
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
33
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic socket
heavier than others (396g)
27
features face detection autofocus
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-03-18 2010-06-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO100) 12.00 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file 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 Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 grams (0.87 lb) 297 grams (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 68
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.0
DXO Low light rating 884 830
Other
Battery life 320 images 330 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $600 $0