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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Newer Model is Sony A9 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony A9, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and A9 (24MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was launched 6 years prior to the A9 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-P3 scores against the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony A9

 E-P3 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus E-P3

 A9 E-P3 
LaunchedApril 2017August 2011Newer by 69 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k614kClearer display (+826k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony A9

 E-P3 A9 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 offers physical 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 Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony A9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P3 vs the A9.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and A9 is 86 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by checking out specs. The pic underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and A9.

All in all, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A9 will show more detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Sony A9 Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
84
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A9 as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus by touch
no moving screen
79
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Sony A9 Sports photography details
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
87
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
60
provides focus by touch
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
74
great battery (650 per charge)
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (24 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
86
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
great battery (650 CIPA)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Sony A9 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
37
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony A9
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Alpha A9
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2011-08-17 2017-04-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 693
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 614k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
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) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 673 grams (1.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 92
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.3
DXO Low light score 536 3517
Other
Battery life 330 photos 650 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Dual
Retail pricing $0 $4,498