Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony NEX-3N

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony NEX-3N, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is pretty close but the SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SP-800 UZ was announced 4 years earlier than the NEX-3N which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SP-800 UZ grades vs the NEX-3N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-800 UZ & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-800 UZ features external dimensions of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") and a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony NEX-3N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SP-800 UZ versus the NEX-3N.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-800 UZ and NEX-3N is 69 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching technical specs. The pic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-800 UZ and NEX-3N.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SP-800 UZ having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-3N will provide you with greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged SP-800 UZ will be behind with regard to sensor technology.