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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Later Model is Sony a3500
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the A3000 (20MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and A3000 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL8 was released 3 years later than the A3000 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL8 grades versus the A3000 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony A3000

 E-PL8 A3000 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016August 2013More recent by 38 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Olympus E-PL8

 A3000 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A3000

 E-PL8 A3000 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with exterior dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sony A3000 has sizing of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 versus the A3000.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and A3000 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by going over specs. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and A3000.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A3000 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
Sony A3000 Portrait photography factors
73
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography advice
Sony A3000 Street photography advice
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
57
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography advice
Sony A3000 Sports photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
60
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery (470 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography advice
Sony A3000 Travel photography advice
72
supports focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
60
great battery (470 per charge)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (411 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Sony A3000
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging highlights
Sony A3000 Vlogging highlights
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
26
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic port
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A3000
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Alpha A3000
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2016-09-19 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options no built-in flash Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 357g (0.79 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 1068
Other
Battery life 350 images 470 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $398