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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • New Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 16 months later than the NEX-3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL3 matches up against the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony NEX-3

 E-PL3 NEX-3 
RevealedSeptember 2011June 2010More recent by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 NEX-3 E-PL3 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony NEX-3

 E-PL3 NEX-3 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 features physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 versus the NEX-3.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and NEX-3 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and NEX-3.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will render extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher E-PL3 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-3 Street photography information
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
has no phase detect AF
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography information
44
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery (300 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
27
offers face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-20 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI 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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 68
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.0
DXO Low light score 499 830
Other
Battery life 300 images 330 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $399 $0