Clicky

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P2
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released August 2013
  • New Model is Sony a3500
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and A3000 (20MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and A3000 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The E-P1 was introduced 5 years before the A3000 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-P1 matches up vs the A3000 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony A3000

 E-P1 A3000 

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Olympus E-P1

 A3000 E-P1 
ReleasedAugust 2013July 2009More recent by 49 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony A3000

 E-P1 A3000 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 provides physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Sony A3000 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P1 vs the A3000.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and A3000 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and A3000.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A3000 will result in more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A3000 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
77
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Sony A3000
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (411 grams)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Sony A3000 Sports photography factors
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
60
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (470 per charge)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Sony A3000 Travel photography advice
43
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
60
great battery pack (470 per charge)
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (411g)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography advice
Sony A3000 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (470 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging factors
Sony A3000 Vlogging factors
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
26
has face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (411 grams)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony A3000
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha A3000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-29 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 411 gr (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.8
DXO Low light rating 536 1068
Other
Battery life 300 photos 470 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $182 $398