Olympus E-P3 vs Sony A55

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-P3 and Sony A55, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and A55 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was announced 12 months later than the A55 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-P3 grades against the A55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-P3 and Sony SLT-A55. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-P3 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 features physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 and Sony A55 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-P3 and the A55.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and A55 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and A55.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A55 will give you more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher E-P3 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.