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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
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
  • Launched February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Refreshed by Sony a5000
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was launched 3 years after the NEX-3N which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-PL8 grades versus the NEX-3N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony NEX-3N

 E-PL8 NEX-3N 
LaunchedSeptember 2016February 2013Newer by 44 months
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Olympus E-PL8

 NEX-3N E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony NEX-3N

 E-PL8 NEX-3N 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 provides external measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 against the NEX-3N.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and NEX-3N is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and NEX-3N.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 offers the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult. The newer E-PL8 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Portrait photography camera
73
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
66
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
77
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
54
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (480 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography advice
72
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery power (480 shots)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3N
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (480 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging details
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-09-19 2013-02-25
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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection 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
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes no built-in flash -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 357 grams (0.79 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 350 images 480 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $500 $399