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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Revealed December 2007
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 7D
  • New Model is Sony A77
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the A700 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and A700 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was launched 3 years after the A700 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-P3 scores against the A700 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony A700

 E-P3 A700 
RevealedAugust 2011December 2007More modern by 45 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Olympus E-P3

 A700 E-P3 
Display resolution920k614kCrisper display (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony A700

 E-P3 A700 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Sony A700 has specifications of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the A700.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and A700 is 86 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and A700.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-P3 includes the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF harder. The more modern E-P3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography details
Sony A700 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A700 as a Street photography camera
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Sony A700
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
56
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A700 as a Travel photography camera
60
boasts focus by touch
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
49
weather proof
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
Sony A700 Landscape photography information
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
62
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
no liveview
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
Sony A700 Vlogging advice
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony A700
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-08-17 2007-12-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.6x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/250 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 369g (0.81 lb) 768g (1.69 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 66
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.9
DXO Low light score 536 581
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots Single Two
Price at launch $0 $1,000