Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3
84 Imaging
59 Features
79 Overall
67


89 Imaging
54 Features
55 Overall
54
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
- Announced January 2016
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1280 x 720 video
- Sony E Mount
- 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
- Announced June 2010
- Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Overview
Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus PEN-F versus Sony NEX-3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

The PEN-F was revealed 5 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the PEN-F grades vs the NEX-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN-F and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus PEN-F Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony NEX-3
PEN-F | NEX-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | January 2016 | ![]() | June 2010 | More recent by 69 months |
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 920k | Sharper screen (+117k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus PEN-F
NEX-3 | PEN-F |
---|
Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-3
PEN-F | NEX-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen measurement |
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F enjoys external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).
Examine the Olympus PEN-F versus Sony NEX-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F compared to the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and NEX-3 is 84 and 89 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and NEX-3.
As you can tell, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will give more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications
Olympus PEN-F | Sony Alpha NEX-3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus PEN-F | Sony Alpha NEX-3 |
Category | Advanced Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Announced | 2016-01-27 | 2010-06-07 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | TruePic VII | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 20MP | 14MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 5184 x 3888 | 4592 x 3056 |
Max native ISO | 25600 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 200 | 200 |
RAW photos | ||
Min enhanced ISO | 80 | - |
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 81 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
Amount of lenses | 107 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 1,037k dot | 920k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | - | TFT Xtra Fine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.62x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
Fastest quiet shutter speed | 1/16000s | - |
Continuous shutter speed | 10.0 frames/s | 7.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 12.00 m |
Flash settings | Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 427 grams (0.94 lb) | 297 grams (0.65 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") | 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 74 | 68 |
DXO Color Depth score | 23.1 | 22.1 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.4 | 12.0 |
DXO Low light score | 894 | 830 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 330 photographs | 330 photographs |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLN-1 | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Pricing at release | $1,000 | $0 |