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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-C3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-F3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-F3 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was revealed 18 months before the NEX-F3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL2 grades versus the NEX-F3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony NEX-F3

 E-PL2 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus E-PL2

 NEX-F3 E-PL2 
LaunchedAugust 2012February 2011Newer by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-F3

 E-PL2 NEX-F3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-F3 has measurements of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-F3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the NEX-F3.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and NEX-F3 is 85 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at technical specs. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and NEX-F3.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-F3 will give you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Street photography camera
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Sony NEX-F3
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery (280 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
53
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery (470 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
low battery (280 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
better than average battery (470 shots)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
27
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-11 2012-08-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
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 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 pounds) 314 gr (0.69 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 12.3
DXO Low light score 573 1114
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 470 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $0 $470