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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Samsung NX1000 front
Portability
90
Imaging
62
Features
60
Overall
61

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Samsung NX1000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 222g - 114 x 63 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Later Model is Samsung NX1100
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX1000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and NX1000 (20MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and NX1000 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was brought out 8 months earlier than the NX1000 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-P3 matches up against the NX1000 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Samsung NX1000

 E-P3 NX1000 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung NX1000 over the Olympus E-P3

 NX1000 E-P3 
ReleasedApril 2012August 2011More recent by 8 months
Screen resolution921k614kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX1000

 E-P3 NX1000 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 features outer measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Samsung NX1000 has dimensions of 114mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX1000 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 and the NX1000.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and NX1000 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and NX1000.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Samsung NX1000 will give you greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Samsung NX1000 Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Samsung NX1000
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
fixed screen
73
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (222g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Samsung NX1000
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
56
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
Samsung NX1000 Travel photography information
60
includes touch to focus
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition in class (222 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography details
Samsung NX1000 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
71
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging information
Samsung NX1000 Vlogging information
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
34
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (222 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no microphone port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX1000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX1000
 Olympus PEN E-P3Samsung NX1000
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Samsung NX1000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-08-17 2012-04-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 15
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Total lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 369g (0.81 pounds) 222g (0.49 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 114 x 63 x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 72
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 12.4
DXO Low light score 536 840
Other
Battery life 330 images 320 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BC1030
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $0 $388