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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P2
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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was released 3 years before the NEX-C3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-P1 scores vs the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony NEX-C3

 E-P1 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus E-P1

 NEX-C3 E-P1 
LaunchedAugust 2011July 2009Fresher by 25 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony NEX-C3

 E-P1 NEX-C3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 offers external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst 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).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 versus the NEX-C3.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and NEX-C3 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specs. The photograph here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and NEX-C3.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-C3 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-C3
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography info
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others (225g)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
53
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (400 CIPA)
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography factors
43
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
71
great battery pack (400 CIPA)
lighter than others (225g)
good megapixels (16MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography features
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
70
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (400 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
27
lighter than others (225g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-07-29 2011-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 225g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 536 1083
Other
Battery life 300 shots 400 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $182 $343