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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
93
Overall
82

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Old Model is Sony A9
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A9 II, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and A9 II (Full frame) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 9 years prior to the A9 II which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL3 scores versus the A9 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony A9 II

 E-PL3 A9 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Olympus E-PL3

 A9 II E-PL3 
ReleasedOctober 2019September 2011More modern by 97 months
Screen resolution1440k460kClearer screen (+980k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A9 II

 E-PL3 A9 II 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys exterior 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) whilst the Sony A9 II has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A9 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 versus the A9 II.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and A9 II is 88 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and A9 II.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A9 II will provide more detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Sony A9 II
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
85
manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Sony A9 II Street photography information
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
88
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery (690 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Sony A9 II
44
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
73
better than average battery (690 shots)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Sony A9 II
61
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
86
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery (690 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A9 II as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A9 II
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-09-20 2019-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 693
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 678g (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 690 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots Single 2
Retail price $399 $4,498