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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P5
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was revealed 15 months after the NEX-5 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-P3 scores vs the NEX-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony NEX-5

 E-P3 NEX-5 
AnnouncedAugust 2011June 2010More modern by 15 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-P3

 NEX-5 E-P3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k614kClearer display (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony NEX-5

 E-P3 NEX-5 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 has exterior measurements 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 Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony NEX-5 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 differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 vs the NEX-5.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and NEX-5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and NEX-5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-5 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-P3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5 Street photography information
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch focus
screen is fixed
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography features
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
lacks phase detect autofocus
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography details
60
includes touch focus
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
59
good resolution (14MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography features
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
no Time Lapse function
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-08-17 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch 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
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 grams (0.81 pounds) 287 grams (0.63 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 69
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 12.2
DXO Low light rating 536 796
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $599