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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was launched 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL7 matches up vs the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Sony NEX-3

 E-PL7 NEX-3 
ReleasedSeptember 2014June 2010More recent by 52 months
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus E-PL7

 NEX-3 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony NEX-3

 E-PL7 NEX-3 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL7 offers outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL7 and the NEX-3.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and NEX-3 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL7 and NEX-3.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL7 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus E-PL7 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The younger E-PL7 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL7
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
76
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
85
boasts touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
59
good resolution (14MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL7
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging advice
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external mic port
27
features face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-09-01 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 297 grams (0.65 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 68
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 12.0
DXO Low light score 873 830
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $499 $0