Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
![Olympus PEN E-PL3 front Olympus PEN E-PL3 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/w300/fronton/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3.jpg)
![Samsung NX3000 front Samsung NX3000 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Samsung-NX3000/Samsung-NX3000-front.jpg)
89 Imaging
63 Features
62 Overall
62
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
- Released September 2011
- Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Samsung NX Mount
- 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
- Launched May 2014
- Earlier Model is Samsung NX2000
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Overview
Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Samsung. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and NX3000 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and NX3000 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
The E-PL3 was launched 3 years prior to the NX3000 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL3 scores vs the NX3000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Samsung NX3000. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Samsung NX3000 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Samsung NX3000
E-PL3 | NX3000 |
---|
Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Olympus E-PL3
NX3000 | E-PL3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | May 2014 | ![]() | September 2011 | More recent by 32 months |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+1k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Samsung NX3000
E-PL3 | NX3000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focusing | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Tilting | Tilting display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display measurements |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Missing Touch display |
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to lug around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Samsung NX3000 has dimensions of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL3 versus the NX3000.
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 size comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Samsung-NX3000-size-comparison.jpg)
Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and NX3000 is 88 and 89 respectively.
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 top view buttons comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Samsung-NX3000-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and NX3000.
To sum up, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Samsung NX3000 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 sensor size comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Samsung-NX3000-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and ViewFinder
![Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL3-vs-Samsung-NX3000-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX3000 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Samsung NX3000 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Samsung |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Samsung NX3000 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Released | 2011-09-20 | 2014-05-26 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Truepic VI | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 20 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 5472 x 3648 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 35 | 35 |
Cross focus points | - | 1 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | Samsung NX |
Total lenses | 107 | 32 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Tilting | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dot | 461 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 6.0fps | 5.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | no built-in flash |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | H.264 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 313g (0.69 lb) | 230g (0.51 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") | 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 52 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 20.9 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.3 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 499 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 pictures | 370 pictures |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLS-5 | B740 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2-30 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail price | $399 | $897 |