Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony a5100

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was released 3 years prior to the a5100 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the a5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 has exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL3 versus the a5100.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and a5100 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Generally, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions only by looking at specifications. The picture here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and a5100.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony a5100 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.