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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Announced January 2016
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus PEN-F versus Sony NEX-F3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and NEX-F3 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was launched 3 years later than the NEX-F3 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the PEN-F scores vs the NEX-F3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony NEX-F3

 PEN-F NEX-F3 
IntroducedJanuary 2016August 2012More recent by 42 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 NEX-F3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-F3

 PEN-F NEX-F3 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus PEN-F comes with external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus PEN-F versus Sony NEX-F3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the PEN-F and the NEX-F3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and NEX-F3 is 84 and 86 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and NEX-F3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Olympus PEN-F will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The younger PEN-F should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Portrait photography camera
75
manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
74
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Street photography camera
84
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
76
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography details
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low battery (330 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
53
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (470 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography features
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography features
75
has touch focus
MP count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery (330 shots)
69
great battery life (470 shots)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography advice
76
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
low battery (330 shots)
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of microphone support
27
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus PEN-FSony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN-F Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-01-27 2012-08-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
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 rate 10.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 314 grams (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 73
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 12.3
DXO Low light score 894 1114
Other
Battery life 330 images 470 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,000 $470