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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A700
  • Renewed by Sony A77 II
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony A77, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and A77 (24MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and A77 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was launched within a month of the A77 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL3 scores vs the A77 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony A77

 E-PL3 A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Olympus E-PL3

 A77 E-PL3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A77

 E-PL3 A77 
RevealedSeptember 2011October 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 offers external measurements 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 A77 has specifications of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 versus Sony A77 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the A77.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and A77 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reading through specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and A77.

All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony A77 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Sony A77 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Sony A77 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
74
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Sony A77 Sports photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Sony A77 Travel photography information
44
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
62
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (470 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Sony A77
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery pack (470 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Sony A77 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have mic port
76
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony A77
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony SLT-A77
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-09-20 2011-10-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 50
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/250s
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 313 gr (0.69 lb) 732 gr (1.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 78
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.2
DXO Low light score 499 801
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 470 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $399 $900