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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 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
  • Revealed September 2012
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 14 months after the NEX-C3 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PL5 grades vs the NEX-C3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony NEX-C3

 E-PL5 NEX-C3 
IntroducedSeptember 2012August 2011More modern by 14 months
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus E-PL5

 NEX-C3 E-PL5 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony NEX-C3

 E-PL5 NEX-C3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 provides outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the NEX-C3.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and NEX-C3 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and NEX-C3.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL5 has got the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF tougher. The fresher E-PL5 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Street photography camera
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
80
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (225g)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
53
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (400 shots)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography highlights
75
features touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
71
great battery life (400 shots)
lighter than competition in class (225g)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (400 shots)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have mic jack
27
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-09-17 2011-08-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 225 gr (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.2
DXO Low light rating 889 1083
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 400 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $400 $343