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Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Samsung NX3000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
64
Features
62
Overall
63

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Old Model is Samsung NX2000
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and NX3000 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and NX3000 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 3 years prior to the NX3000 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores versus the NX3000 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Samsung NX3000

 E-PM1 NX3000 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Olympus E-PM1

 NX3000 E-PM1 
RevealedMay 2014November 2011More modern by 30 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Samsung NX3000

 E-PM1 NX3000 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 features outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Samsung NX3000 has proportions of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 vs the NX3000.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and NX3000 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and NX3000.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Samsung NX3000 will resolve more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX3000 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
78
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Samsung NX3000 Street photography information
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
81
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (230 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX3000 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of phase detect auto focus
57
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX3000 as a Travel photography camera
45
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than others (230 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX3000 as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging details
Samsung NX3000 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
34
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (230g)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung NX3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Samsung NX3000
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Samsung NX3000
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Samsung NX3000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-11-23 2014-05-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
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 35 35
Cross focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Total lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 230 grams (0.51 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 370 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $499 $897