Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A450

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A450, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the A450 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and A450 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was launched 21 months later than the A450 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-PL3 matches up against the A450 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A450. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Sony A450 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 provides exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony A450 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A450 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-PL3 and the A450.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and A450 is 88 and 65 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specs. The graphic here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and A450.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A450 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-PL3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.