Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony a3500

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and a3500 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was released 3 years before the a3500 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL3 scores against the a3500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Sony Alpha a3500. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Sony a3500 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys 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) whilst the Sony a3500 has proportions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony a3500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the a3500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and a3500 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The picture below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and a3500.

All in all, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony a3500 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.