Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3N
84 Imaging
58 Features
79 Overall
66
89 Imaging
56 Features
52 Overall
54
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
- Launched January 2016
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 16000
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
- Announced February 2013
- Replaced the Sony NEX-F3
- Renewed by Sony a5000
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The following is a extended review of the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-3N, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and NEX-3N (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe PEN-F was revealed 2 years after the NEX-3N which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the PEN-F scores versus the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN-F & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The full galleries are provided at Olympus PEN-F Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony NEX-3N
| PEN-F | NEX-3N | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | January 2016 | February 2013 | Newer by 36 months | |
| Screen type | Fully Articulated | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen | |
| Screen resolution | 1037k | 460k | Crisper screen (+577k dot) | |
| Selfie screen | Take selfies | |||
| Touch screen | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Olympus PEN-F
| NEX-3N | PEN-F |
|---|
Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-3N
| PEN-F | NEX-3N | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | Very accurate focus | |||
| Screen size | 3" | 3" | Same screen measurement |
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F comes with outside measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has specifications of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).
Check the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-3N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the PEN-F and the NEX-3N.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and NEX-3N is 84 and 89 respectively.
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The picture here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and NEX-3N.
As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will resolve more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications
| Olympus PEN-F | Sony Alpha NEX-3N | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Olympus | Sony |
| Model | Olympus PEN-F | Sony Alpha NEX-3N |
| Category | Advanced Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Launched | 2016-01-27 | 2013-02-25 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor Chip | TruePic VII | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 20 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 5184 x 3888 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Max native ISO | 25600 | 16000 |
| Minimum native ISO | 200 | 200 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Minimum boosted ISO | 80 | - |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detection AF | ||
| Contract detection AF | ||
| Phase detection AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 81 | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Total lenses | 107 | 121 |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
| Screen diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1,037 thousand dot | 460 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch operation | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360 thousand dot | - |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.62x | - |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Maximum silent shutter speed | 1/16000 secs | - |
| Continuous shooting speed | 10.0 frames/s | 4.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash range | no built-in flash | - |
| Flash modes | Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) | - |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash sync | - | 1/160 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) | 1920 x 1080 |
| Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Built-In | 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 | 427g (0.94 lb) | 269g (0.59 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") | 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | 74 | 74 |
| DXO Color Depth score | 23.1 | 22.8 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 12.4 | 12.5 |
| DXO Low light score | 894 | 1067 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 330 photos | 480 photos |
| Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | BLN-1 | NPFW50 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) | - |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Price at launch | $1,000 | $399 |