Olympus E-P7 vs Sony NEX-3

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-P7 and Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-P7 (20MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the E-P7 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-P7 was revealed 11 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-P7 scores versus the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P7 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-P7 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P7 has got physical dimensions of 118mm x 69mm x 38mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 337 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P7 and Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P7 against the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P7 and NEX-3 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The image here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P7 and NEX-3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P7 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-P7 will offer greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern E-P7 provides an advantage in sensor technology.