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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Launched May 2009
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony H20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was revealed 2 years later than the H20 and that is a fairly serious difference 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 H20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-P3 scores vs the H20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony H20

 E-P3 H20 
LaunchedAugust 2011May 2009More recent by 28 months
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Olympus E-P3

 H20 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony H20

 E-P3 H20 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 offers 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) whilst the Sony H20 has measurements of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony H20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-P3 and the H20.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and H20 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The visual here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and H20.

As you can tell, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-P3 will render greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer E-P3 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Sony H20
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography factors
Sony H20 Street photography factors
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch focus
no moving screen
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than others in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Sony H20
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H20 as a Travel photography camera
60
provides touch focus
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
great reach (380mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (250g)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography factors
Sony H20 Landscape photography factors
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
36
manual focus
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Sony H20
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (250 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony H20
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-08-17 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing distance - 2cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 gr (0.81 lb) 250 gr (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $249