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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 3 years earlier than the QX30 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the QX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony QX30

 E-PL3 QX30 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus E-PL3

 QX30 E-PL3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014September 2011Fresher by 35 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX30

 E-PL3 QX30 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 and the QX30.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and QX30 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The photograph below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and QX30.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony QX30 will result in more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
38
decent MP (20 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Sony QX30 Street photography features
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
Sony QX30 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Sony QX30 Travel photography features
44
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
features focus via touch
decent MP (20MP)
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Sony QX30
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
39
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Sony QX30 Vlogging details
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony QX30
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Released 2011-09-20 2014-09-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch -
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 193 gr (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 200 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $399 $348