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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX100V front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Sony TX100V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 147g - 97 x 59 x 18mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and TX100V (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TX100V (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 9 months after the TX100V which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony TX100V being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL3 grades against the TX100V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony TX100V

 E-PL3 TX100V 
RevealedSeptember 2011January 2011More modern by 9 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony TX100V over the Olympus E-PL3

 TX100V E-PL3 
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony TX100V

 E-PL3 TX100V 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 provides exterior 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 TX100V has specifications of 97mm x 59mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the TX100V.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and TX100V is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The image below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and TX100V.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony TX100V will resolve greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The fresher E-PL3 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony TX100V as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
30
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Sony TX100V as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than others (147g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography highlights
Sony TX100V Sports photography highlights
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Sony TX100V
44
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery life (300 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
boasts focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (147 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX100V as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
43
quite wide (25mm)
lovely big screen (3.5")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Sony TX100V
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
32
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
heavier than others (147g)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony TX100V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony TX100V
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX100V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX100V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2011-09-20 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI BIONZ
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3.5"
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine OLED display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 lb) 147g (0.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 59 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
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
Retail pricing $399 $380