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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(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
Sony NEX-3N
(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
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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.

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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.

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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 
ReleasedSeptember 2012February 2013Similar generation
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact 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

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

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
66
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Sony NEX-3N
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
77
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
53
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (480 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography advice
75
offers touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse mode
71
better than average battery power (480 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography features
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (480 shots)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony 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