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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Introduced January 2019
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A6400, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and A6400 (24MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and A6400 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 8 years prior to the A6400 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL3 matches up against the A6400 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony A6400

 E-PL3 A6400 

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Olympus E-PL3

 A6400 E-PL3 
IntroducedJanuary 2019September 2011Fresher by 89 months
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A6400

 E-PL3 A6400 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 has physical measurements 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 A6400 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A6400 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 differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 and the A6400.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and A6400 is 88 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing merely by looking through specifications. The photograph here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and A6400.

Plainly, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A6400 will render greater detail because of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Sony A6400
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
81
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Sony A6400 Street photography highlights
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
81
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
weather proof
good ISO range (32,000)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Sony A6400 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
76
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Sony A6400 Travel photography details
44
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
87
weather proof
supports bluetooth
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Sony A6400 Landscape photography features
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (32,000)
saves RAW files
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6400 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
80
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
supports face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic jack
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A6400
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Alpha a6400
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2011-09-20 2019-01-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI Bionz X
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 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 32000
Highest boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 425
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 403 grams (0.89 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 83
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.6
DXO Low light score 499 1431
Other
Battery life 300 shots 410 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $399 $898