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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony HX1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was announced 2 years after the HX1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E-P3 matches up against the HX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony HX1

 E-P3 HX1 
ReleasedAugust 2011April 2009More modern by 29 months
Display resolution614k230kClearer display (+384k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-P3

 HX1 E-P3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony HX1

 E-P3 HX1 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys outside 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 HX1 has sizing of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony HX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 versus the HX1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and HX1 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizes only by checking technical specs. The pic underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and HX1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 having a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-P3 will give greater detail with its extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more modern E-P3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
Sony HX1 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Sony HX1
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
no moving screen
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography information
Sony HX1 Sports photography information
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect auto focus
36
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
60
boasts focus by touch
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
48
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (544g)
low resolution sensor (9MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
39
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Sony HX1
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
22
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1440 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (544g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-17 2009-04-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 9.20 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 pounds) 544 grams (1.20 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $0 $47,999