Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000
86 Imaging
47 Features
43 Overall
45


69 Imaging
62 Features
54 Overall
58
Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
- Introduced November 2010
- Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
- New Model is Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
- Released August 2013
- Updated by Sony a3500

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Overview
Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and A3000 (20MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and A3000 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

The E-PL1s was brought out 3 years before the A3000 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL1s grades vs the A3000 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL1s & Sony Alpha A3000. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1s Gallery & Sony A3000 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sony A3000
E-PL1s | A3000 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Olympus E-PL1s
A3000 | E-PL1s | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | August 2013 | ![]() | November 2010 | Newer by 33 months |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A3000
E-PL1s | A3000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Equal screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither features selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither features Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison
If you're going to travel with your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony A3000 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1s vs the A3000.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and A3000 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over specs. The image underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and A3000.
All in all, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A3000 will deliver more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A3000 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL1s | Sony Alpha A3000 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus PEN E-PL1s | Sony Alpha A3000 |
Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2010-11-16 | 2013-08-27 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Truepic V | BIONZ image |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 20MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 5456 x 3632 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 16000 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
Total lenses | 107 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 2.7 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating | TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.47x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0 frames per sec | 3.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 10.00 m | 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100) |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync. |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/160s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD, H.264, MP4 |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 334 grams (0.74 pounds) | 411 grams (0.91 pounds) |
Dimensions | 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 78 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.8 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1068 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 290 pictures | 470 pictures |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | BLS-1 | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC | - |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail cost | $599 | $398 |