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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 front
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Sony T900
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 143g - 98 x 58 x 16mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 Overview

Here is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony T900, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the T900 (12MP) is pretty close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and T900 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was announced 2 years later than the T900 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony T900 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL3 matches up against the T900 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony T900

 E-PL3 T900 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2009Fresher by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony T900 over the Olympus E-PL3

 T900 E-PL3 
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony T900

 E-PL3 T900 
Focus manually More exact focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Sony T900 has measurements of 98mm x 58mm x 16mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.6") having a weight of 143 grams (0.32 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony T900 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 against the T900.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and T900 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and T900.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 includes the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh easier. The younger E-PL3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony T900 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Sony T900 Street photography features
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Sony T900
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Sony T900 Travel photography factors
44
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Sony T900 Landscape photography features
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
36
has manual focus
screen larger than average (3.5 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Sony T900
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
28
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony T900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony T900
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2011-09-20 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings 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
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 pounds) 143 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 98 x 58 x 16mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.6")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $399 $300