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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
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
  • Announced February 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Successor is Sony a5000
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 15 months earlier than the NEX-3N making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PM1 grades against the NEX-3N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony NEX-3N

 E-PM1 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Olympus E-PM1

 NEX-3N E-PM1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013November 2011Newer by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony NEX-3N

 E-PM1 NEX-3N 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the NEX-3N.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and NEX-3N is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The image underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and NEX-3N.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-3N will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
66
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
77
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Sports photography camera
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery power (480 per charge)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3N
45
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
great battery power (480 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (480 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-11-23 2013-02-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 74
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.5
DXO Low light score 499 1067
Other
Battery life 330 images 480 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $499 $399