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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Samsung NX100 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
Samsung NX100
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 282g - 120 x 71 x 35mm
  • Revealed September 2010
  • Replacement is Samsung NX200
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is very similar but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and NX100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was announced 12 months later than the NX100 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P3 matches up against the NX100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Samsung NX100

 E-P3 NX100 
RevealedAugust 2011September 2010More recent by 12 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung NX100 over the Olympus E-P3

 NX100 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX100

 E-P3 NX100 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution614k614kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 has got exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Samsung NX100 has dimensions of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 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 are employing during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P3 against the NX100.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and NX100 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The graphic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and NX100.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Samsung NX100 will offer you more detail with its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more modern E-P3 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX100 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
good resolution (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Samsung NX100
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
fixed screen
76
image stabilization
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Samsung NX100
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low fps (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
60
image stabilization
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery (420 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Samsung NX100 Travel photography details
60
provides focus by touch
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
66
better than average battery (420 shots)
good resolution (15MP)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX100 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
75
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (420 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Samsung NX100
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
31
image stabilization
provides face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX100
 Olympus PEN E-P3Samsung NX100
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Samsung NX100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-08-17 2010-09-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI DRIMe Engine
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 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 15
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating VGA AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic 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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lbs) 282 gr (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 120 x 71 x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 62
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.7
DXO Low light score 536 563
Other
Battery life 330 shots 420 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $0 $386