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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-P3 and Sony RX1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was brought out 18 months before the RX1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-P3 matches up vs the RX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony RX1

 E-P3 RX1 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-P3

 RX1 E-P3 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2011More recent by 18 months
Display resolution1229k614kClearer display (+615k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony RX1

 E-P3 RX1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys exterior measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P3 and Sony RX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 vs the RX1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and RX1 is 86 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and RX1.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony RX1 will resolve extra detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Sony RX1 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
81
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
decent MP (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Sony RX1 Street photography info
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
no moving screen
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Sony RX1 Sports photography details
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect autofocus
53
decent MP (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography advice
Sony RX1 Travel photography advice
60
comes with focus by touch
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
good max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery (270 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (482 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Sony RX1
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
64
you can focus manually
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (270 shots)
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Sony RX1
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
34
good max aperture (f2.0)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (482 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony RX1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-08-17 2013-02-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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) 482 gr (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 93
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.3
DXO Low light rating 536 2534
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 270 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
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 $2,798