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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony H90
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 222g - 105 x 60 x 34mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and H90 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and H90 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 5 months prior to the H90 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H90 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL3 grades vs the H90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony H90

 E-PL3 H90 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony H90 over the Olympus E-PL3

 H90 E-PL3 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony H90

 E-PL3 H90 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2012Same generation
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony H90 has proportions of 105mm x 60mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 in the latest Camera and 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 select at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 against the H90.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and H90 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The image below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and H90.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony H90 will result in extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Sony H90 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Sony H90
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (222g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H90 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery pack (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H90 as a Travel photography camera
44
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition (222g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography factors
Sony H90 Landscape photography factors
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
44
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H90 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
32
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (222 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony H90
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-09-20 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI BIONZ
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 222 grams (0.49 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 60 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 290 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $399 $230