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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 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 G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the G3 (10MP) is very close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and G3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 2 years after the G3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL3 scores vs the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony G3

 E-PL3 G3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2009Newer by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 G3 E-PL3 
Display dimension3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony G3

 E-PL3 G3 
Manually focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony G3 has measurements of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL3 and the G3.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and G3 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and G3.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 using its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL3 will result in extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more recent E-PL3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Sony G3 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
26
manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Sony G3
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Sony G3
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000s)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Sony G3
44
does not have Timelapse function
low battery (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
50
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Sony G3
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
36
manual focus
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Sony G3 Vlogging info
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
27
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony G3
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-09-20 2009-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.5 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 1 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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) 185 grams (0.41 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $200