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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 front
Portability
96
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony QX10
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 105g - 62 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2013
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX10, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Lens-style by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and QX10 (18MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and QX10 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was announced 23 months earlier than the QX10 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX10 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL3 scores vs the QX10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony QX10

 E-PL3 QX10 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX10 over the Olympus E-PL3

 QX10 E-PL3 
IntroducedSeptember 2013September 2011Fresher by 23 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX10

 E-PL3 QX10 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony QX10 has dimensions of 62mm x 62mm x 33mm (2.4" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 105 grams (0.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX10 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 vs the QX10.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and QX10 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the difference in sensor sizing only by going through specifications. The photograph here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and QX10.

Plainly, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 having a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Sony QX10 will produce greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX10 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
36
good resolution (18MP)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography advice
Sony QX10 Street photography advice
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition (105 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography highlights
Sony QX10 Sports photography highlights
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
37
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Sony QX10
44
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (105 grams)
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (18 megapixels)
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Sony QX10 Landscape photography information
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
38
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small ( inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging factors
Sony QX10 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (105g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1440 x 1080 pxls)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX10
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Introduced 2011-09-20 2013-09-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch -
Display resolution 460k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Depends on connected smartphone
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) None
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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) 105 grams (0.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 62 x 62 x 33mm (2.4" 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 220 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $250