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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • New Model is Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony NEX-C3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was launched 22 months after the NEX-C3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-PM2 grades versus the NEX-C3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony NEX-C3

 E-PM2 NEX-C3 
LaunchedMay 2013August 2011Newer by 22 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus E-PM2

 NEX-C3 E-PM2 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony NEX-C3

 E-PM2 NEX-C3 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 offers outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony NEX-C3 has specifications of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony NEX-C3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 and the NEX-C3.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and NEX-C3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The pic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and NEX-C3.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 has the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder. The fresher E-PM2 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
79
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (225g)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Sony NEX-C3
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
53
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (400 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography info
66
comes with focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
no Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery pack (400 CIPA)
lighter than average (225g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no Time Lapse function
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging info
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
27
lighter than average (225g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-05-21 2011-08-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 225 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.2
DXO Low light rating 932 1083
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 400 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $448 $343