Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N
89 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49


89 Imaging
57 Features
52 Overall
55
Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | February 2013 | ![]() | November 2011 | Newer by 15 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony NEX-3N
E-PM1 | NEX-3N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical display dimensions |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 460k | Same 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Sony 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 |