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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Samsung NX5 front
Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
50
Overall
53

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Samsung NX5
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the NX5 (15MP) is very close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and NX5 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 15 months later than the NX5 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-P3 grades vs the NX5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Samsung NX5

 E-P3 NX5 
LaunchedAugust 2011June 2010More recent by 15 months
Display resolution614k230kCrisper display (+384k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung NX5 over the Olympus E-P3

 NX5 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX5

 E-P3 NX5 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 comes with outer measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX5 has sizing of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 vs the NX5.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and NX5 is 86 and 80 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The graphic here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and NX5.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Samsung NX5 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-P3 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Samsung NX5
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
73
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX5 as a Street photography camera
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
screen does not articulate
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
heavier than others (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX5 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
52
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (400 per charge)
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Samsung NX5
60
includes focus by touch
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
63
good battery (400 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (499g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX5 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (400 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
Samsung NX5 Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
24
comes with face detection focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than others (499 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung NX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Samsung NX5
 Olympus PEN E-P3Samsung NX5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Samsung NX5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-08-17 2010-06-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI DRIM 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 12MP 15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 15
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Number of lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 11.00 m
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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 lbs) 499g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 123 x 87 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 400 pictures
Battery type 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 type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $499