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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6000 front
Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
78
Overall
70

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony A6000
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 344g - 120 x 67 x 45mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-6
  • Successor is Sony A6300
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony A6000, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and A6000 (24MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and A6000 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 3 years before the A6000 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL3 matches up against the A6000 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony A6000

 E-PL3 A6000 

Reasons to pick Sony A6000 over the Olympus E-PL3

 A6000 E-PL3 
RevealedApril 2014September 2011Fresher by 31 months
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A6000

 E-PL3 A6000 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 has got outer 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 A6000 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8") with a weight of 344 grams (0.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony A6000 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL3 vs the A6000.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and A6000 is 88 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing simply by checking out specs. The graphic here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and A6000.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A6000 will produce more detail having an extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A6000 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
79
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Sony A6000 Street photography factors
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (344 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
Sony A6000 Sports photography factors
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
73
decent megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Sony A6000 Travel photography highlights
44
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
77
lighter than competition in class (344 grams)
decent megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6000 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Sony A6000
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
33
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (344 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A6000
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Alpha a6000
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Alpha a6000
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2011-09-20 2014-04-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 179
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction, hi-speed sync, wireless control
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 344 grams (0.76 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 499 1347
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 360 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $399 $548