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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony a3500
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Overview

The following is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and A3000 (20MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and A3000 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the A3000 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PL2 scores vs the A3000 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony A3000

 E-PL2 A3000 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Olympus E-PL2

 A3000 E-PL2 
LaunchedAugust 2013February 2011Newer by 30 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A3000

 E-PL2 A3000 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 features physical measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Sony A3000 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony A3000 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 differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL2 and the A3000.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and A3000 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The image underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and A3000.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A3000 will produce greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Sony A3000
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
60
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery (470 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
Sony A3000 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (280 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
great battery (470 shots)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
more heavy than average (411 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (470 shots)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Sony A3000
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
26
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external microphone socket
more heavy than average (411g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A3000
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha A3000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-02-11 2013-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 114 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 All around score 55 78
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 12.8
DXO Low light score 573 1068
Other
Battery life 280 photos 470 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC -
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $398