Clicky

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A300
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A330, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the A330 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and A330 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The E-PL3 was manufactured 2 years after the A330 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL3 grades against the A330 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony A330

 E-PL3 A330 
LaunchedSeptember 2011May 2009Newer by 29 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Olympus E-PL3

 A330 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A330

 E-PL3 A330 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony A330 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A330 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 versus the A330.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and A330 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specs. The pic underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and A330.

All in all, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus E-PL3 will result in extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A330 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
62
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Sony A330
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
75
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Sony A330
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
50
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (230 shots)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Sony A330 Travel photography advice
44
does not have Timelapse function
low battery power (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
44
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (230 shots)
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A330 Landscape photography highlights
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
54
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Sony A330 Vlogging information
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
9
no video shooting
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A330
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-09-20 2009-05-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 529 gr (1.17 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 64
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.5
DXO Low light score 499 535
Other
Battery life 300 photos 230 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $399 $545