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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony HX20V, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was released 11 months earlier than the HX20V which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-P3 scores vs the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony HX20V

 E-P3 HX20V 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-P3

 HX20V E-P3 
ReleasedJuly 2012August 2011More modern by 11 months
Screen resolution922k614kClearer screen (+308k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony HX20V

 E-P3 HX20V 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 offers exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 versus Sony HX20V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the HX20V.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and HX20V is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and HX20V.

Clearly, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX20V will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
45
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
offers face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
no moving screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Sony HX20V Sports photography details
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Sony HX20V Travel photography info
60
comes with touch to focus
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX20V Landscape photography factors
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
50
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging features
Sony HX20V Vlogging features
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
34
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-17 2012-07-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 614 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 320 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $397