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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
52
Features
68
Overall
58

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Introduced March 2014
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-P3 versus Samsung NX mini, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Samsung. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and NX mini (1") have different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was announced 3 years before the NX mini which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-P3 grades against the NX mini in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Samsung NX mini

 E-P3 NX mini 
Display resolution614k461kClearer display (+153k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Olympus E-P3

 NX mini E-P3 
IntroducedMarch 2014August 2011Newer by 31 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX mini

 E-P3 NX mini 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Samsung NX mini has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 versus Samsung NX mini in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 against the NX mini.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and NX mini is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specifications. The picture underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and NX mini.

Plainly, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Samsung NX mini will give you greater detail with its extra 8.5MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (20.5 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Samsung NX mini
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
no moving screen
81
tilting screen
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition (196g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography features
Samsung NX mini Sports photography features
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
54
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
good resolution (20.5MP)
nice sensor size (1")
great battery (650 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Samsung NX mini Travel photography factors
60
features focus by touch
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
76
great battery (650 CIPA)
lighter than competition (196 grams)
supports focus by touch
good resolution (20.5 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Samsung NX mini
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (20.5 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
great battery (650 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Samsung NX mini
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
38
has touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
lighter than competition (196 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX mini
 Olympus PEN E-P3Samsung NX mini
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Samsung NX mini
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-08-17 2014-03-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20.5MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 21
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX-M
Available lenses 107 2
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 196 grams (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 650 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $530