Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N
88 Imaging
52 Features
72 Overall
60
![Olympus PEN E-PL5 front Olympus PEN E-PL5 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Olympus-PEN-E-PL5/Olympus-E-PL5-front.jpg)
![Sony Alpha NEX-3N front Sony Alpha NEX-3N front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-NEX-3N/Sony-NEX-3N-front.jpg)
89 Imaging
58 Features
52 Overall
55
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
- Introduced September 2012
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
- Released February 2013
- Old Model is Sony NEX-F3
- Renewed by Sony a5000
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview
Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
The E-PL5 was brought out 5 months prior to the NEX-3N so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL5 scores against the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Sony NEX-3N Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony NEX-3N
E-PL5 | NEX-3N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Olympus E-PL5
NEX-3N | E-PL5 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony NEX-3N
E-PL5 | NEX-3N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | September 2012 | ![]() | February 2013 | Similar generation |
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Tilting | Tilting display |
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display dimensions |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 460k | Exact same display resolution |
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has specifications of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL5 versus the NEX-3N.
![Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL5-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-3N-size-comparison.jpg)
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and NEX-3N is 88 and 89 respectively.
![Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL5-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-3N-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison
Normally, its hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The pic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and NEX-3N.
As you can tell, both of these cameras feature the identical megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL5 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF harder.
![Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL5-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-3N-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder
![Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PL5-vs-Sony-Alpha-NEX-3N-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL5 | Sony Alpha NEX-3N | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL5 | Sony Alpha NEX-3N |
Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2012-09-17 | 2013-02-25 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 25600 | 16000 |
Min native ISO | 200 | 200 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 35 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
Amount of lenses | 107 | 121 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dot | 460 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 8.0fps | 4.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) | - |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | - |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | 1/250 seconds | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
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 | 325 grams (0.72 lbs) | 269 grams (0.59 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") | 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | 72 | 74 |
DXO Color Depth score | 22.8 | 22.8 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.3 | 12.5 |
DXO Low light score | 889 | 1067 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 360 images | 480 images |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLS-5 | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | - |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Price at launch | $400 | $399 |