Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3
84 Imaging
58 Features
79 Overall
66
91 Imaging
56 Features
57 Overall
56
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3 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
- Introduced January 2016
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 12800
- 1280 x 720 video
- Sony E Mount
- 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
- Released August 2011
- Superseded the Sony NEX-3
- Replacement is Sony NEX-F3
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Let's take a closer look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe PEN-F was launched 4 years after the NEX-C3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the PEN-F scores against the NEX-C3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN-F and Sony Alpha NEX-C3. The complete galleries are available at Olympus PEN-F Gallery and Sony NEX-C3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony NEX-C3
| PEN-F | NEX-C3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | January 2016 | August 2011 | Newer by 54 months | |
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Tilting | Fully Articulating display | |
| Display resolution | 1037k | 920k | Sharper display (+117k dot) | |
| Selfie screen | Take selfies | |||
| Touch friendly display | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus PEN-F
| NEX-C3 | PEN-F |
|---|
Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-C3
| PEN-F | NEX-C3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | Very precise focusing | |||
| Display size | 3" | 3" | Same display dimensions |
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison
If you are going to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F provides exterior measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).
Examine the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the PEN-F vs the NEX-C3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and NEX-C3 is 84 and 91 respectively.
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and NEX-C3.
Clearly, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus PEN-F will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher PEN-F is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications
| Olympus PEN-F | Sony Alpha NEX-C3 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Olympus | Sony |
| Model type | Olympus PEN-F | Sony Alpha NEX-C3 |
| Class | Advanced Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Introduced | 2016-01-27 | 2011-08-22 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | TruePic VII | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 365.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 20 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Max resolution | 5184 x 3888 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Max native ISO | 25600 | 12800 |
| Minimum native ISO | 200 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Minimum enhanced ISO | 80 | - |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Tracking autofocus | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 81 | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Number of lenses | 107 | 121 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of screen | 1,037 thousand dot | 920 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch functionality | ||
| Screen technology | - | TFT Xtra Fine LCD |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | None |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360 thousand dot | - |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.62x | - |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
| Max shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Max silent shutter speed | 1/16000 secs | - |
| Continuous shutter speed | 10.0 frames/s | 6.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
| Flash options | 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 | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | - | 1/160 secs |
| 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 |
| Mic jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| 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 proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 427 gr (0.94 pounds) | 225 gr (0.50 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") | 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | 74 | 73 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 23.1 | 22.7 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.4 | 12.2 |
| DXO Low light rating | 894 | 1083 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 330 images | 400 images |
| Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | BLN-1 | NPFW50 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
| Cost at release | $1,000 | $343 |