Clicky

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony NEX-7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-PL3 was brought out 2 months prior to the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PL3 scores versus the NEX-7 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony NEX-7

 E-PL3 NEX-7 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus E-PL3

 NEX-7 E-PL3 
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony NEX-7

 E-PL3 NEX-7 
RevealedSeptember 2011December 2011Same age
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 has exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony NEX-7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the NEX-7.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and NEX-7 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and NEX-7.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony NEX-7 will provide you with extra detail having its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
78
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-7 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-7 Sports photography info
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
62
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (430 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Travel photography camera
44
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (300 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
good battery power (430 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-7
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
72
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (430 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
35
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-12-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 400 grams (0.88 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 81
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.4
DXO Low light score 499 1016
Other
Battery life 300 images 430 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $399 $699