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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX220 front
Portability
96
Imaging
43
Features
41
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Sony WX220
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 121g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Launched February 2014
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony WX220, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and WX220 (18MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and WX220 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was announced 3 years before the WX220 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX220 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL3 scores versus the WX220 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony WX220

 E-PL3 WX220 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony WX220 over the Olympus E-PL3

 WX220 E-PL3 
LaunchedFebruary 2014September 2011Fresher by 29 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony WX220

 E-PL3 WX220 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 features outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony WX220 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony WX220 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL3 vs the WX220.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and WX220 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and WX220.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 having a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony WX220 will render greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX220 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
37
megapixel count good (18MP)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX220 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Sony WX220 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Sony WX220 Travel photography factors
44
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery power (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
megapixel count good (18MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Sony WX220 Landscape photography details
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
44
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Sony WX220
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony WX220 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony WX220
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX220
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX220
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-09-20 2014-02-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum 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 WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.70 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, on, slow synchro, off, advanced
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum 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 (60p, 60i), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 313g (0.69 lbs) 121g (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 photos 210 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $399 $198