Olympus SP-810 UZ vs. Sony Alpha NEX-3: A Detailed Comparative Analysis for Photographers

Selecting the right camera hinges on understanding nuanced performance aspects, usability, and how a system aligns with diverse photographic applications. This report presents an exhaustive comparison of the Olympus SP-810 UZ, a small-sensor superzoom bridge camera, and the Sony Alpha NEX-3, an entry-level mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.

These cameras, unveiled roughly a year apart - from mid-2010 (Sony NEX-3) to mid-2011 (Olympus SP-810 UZ) - embody distinct design philosophies and technological trade-offs. Our analysis draws on careful hands-on testing of both models, meticulously evaluating sensor performance, autofocus fidelity, ergonomics, build quality, and suitability for various photographic genres.

Understanding the Form Factor: Ergonomics and Handling Implications

Physical handling affects long shooting sessions and field viability. The Olympus SP-810 UZ adopts a bridge camera style, SLR-like with a pronounced grip and fixed lens, while the Sony NEX-3 represents early mirrorless compactness, emphasizing portability and modularity.

Size comparison between Olympus SP-810 UZ (left) and Sony Alpha NEX-3 (right)

• Olympus SP-810 UZ measures 106 x 76 x 74 mm, weighing approximately 413 g. With its heft and depth, it provides a confident feel, suited for stable shooting but less convenient for pocket carry. Its grip design aids in manual stability despite the absence of a dedicated viewfinder.

• Sony Alpha NEX-3, at 117 x 62 x 33 mm and 297 g, is significantly slimmer and lighter. The reduced bulk encourages all-day travel use, though its shallower grip may challenge handling when paired with heavier lenses.

The physical design differences stem from component choices: the Olympus integrates a 36× fixed superzoom lens (24–864 mm equivalent), necessitating larger depth, whereas the Sony benefits from an interchangeable lens mount with different lens sizes available.

The Olympus’s bridge styling appeals to users requiring a superzoom without lens swaps, while the Sony’s mirrorless approach caters to users valuing future expandability and system versatility.

Camera Top Design and Control Layout: Usability Under the Hood

Efficient camera operation hinges on intuitive controls and layout. The design greatly influences how quickly photographers can adjust settings during dynamic scenes.

• Olympus SP-810 UZ offers a minimalistic interface geared toward point-and-shoot convenience with limited exposure controls. Lacking manual aperture or shutter priority modes, it automates most settings, which could frustrate advanced users prioritizing creative control. The camera features shooting modes but no dedicated dials for fast exposure adjustments.

• Sony Alpha NEX-3 embraces more control with dedicated modes: shutter priority, aperture priority, full manual exposure, and exposure compensation, confirming its suitability for enthusiasts advancing their technical skills. The electronic shutter extends max shutter speed up to 1/4000 s, compared to the SP-810’s max of 1/1200 s.

Although neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, both provide live view on their LCD displays - the Sony’s higher resolution display (explored in later sections) contributes to precise manual focusing.

The Sony’s control layout is more akin to traditional DSLRs, offering exposure flexibility vital for professional workflows and advanced amateurs, whereas the Olympus streamlines shooting, at the expense of creative customization.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Core Differentiator

A camera’s sensor remains paramount to image quality, affecting resolution, noise performance, dynamic range, and color fidelity.

• Olympus SP-810 UZ utilizes a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 14 megapixels and an area of approximately 28.1 mm². Small sensor size constrains dynamic range, low-light capability, and depth-of-field control. The TruePic III+ processor contributes basic noise reduction but cannot offset inherent high ISO limitations or noise generation at extended sensitivity.

• Sony Alpha NEX-3 features a substantially larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm), with the same 14 MP resolution but an active sensor area of 365 mm², over 13 times larger than the Olympus. This sensor jump offers pronounced advantages:

  • Better high ISO performance, with the native ISO range extending up to 12800 (compared to Olympus’s ISO 3200 max).
  • Higher dynamic range, quoted at 12 EV stops by DxOMark testing (Olympus not tested officially).
  • Raw file capture, facilitating extensive post-processing control. The Olympus SP-810 UZ does not support raw format, limiting in-camera JPEG editing and flexibility.

This sensor advantage defines performance differences in various genres, particularly in low light and image detail retention.

Rear LCD Display and Interface Feedback

LCD quality affects composition, focusing accuracy, and menu navigation fluidity, especially in mirrorless and bridge cameras without viewfinders.

• The Olympus SP-810 UZ sports a fixed 3-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution. The low pixel density results in less detailed live view images and less confidence in assessing sharpness or exposure on screen.

• The Sony Alpha NEX-3 offers a 3-inch tilting TFT Xtra Fine LCD with 920k-dot resolution. The higher resolution enhances manual focusing usability and provides better image review fidelity, crucial for precise adjustments, macro work, or critical focus applications.

The NEX-3’s tilting feature benefits low- or high-angle shooting scenarios, absent on the fixed Olympus display. Both omit touchscreen functionality, which in 2010–2011 was generally absent in entry-level models.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus performance directly influences ability to capture fast, decisive moments - critical in sports, wildlife, and street photography.

• The Olympus SP-810 UZ incorporates contrast-detection AF with face detection capabilities but lacks manual focus and a sophisticated AF system. Continuous AF tracking is rudimentary at best, with a very slow continuous shooting rate of 0.7 fps, making it unsuitable for fast action. The fixed lens and absence of phase detection narrow its usability in dynamic situations.

• The Sony NEX-3 relies on contrast detection AF as well, integrating 25 AF points for improved subject selection and offering continuous AF modes. In supported lenses, it provides rapid focus acquisition. The NEX-3’s burst shooting reaches 7 fps, enabling reasonable coverage of moderate action scenes. Manual focus override is available, enhancing precision control.

Though neither camera employs hybrid or phase detection systems prevalent in modern models, the NEX-3’s system is measurably superior for AF demanding scenarios.

Lens Ecosystem and Optical Flexibility

The Olympus SP-810 UZ’s fixed lens is a 36× zoom (equivalent 24–864 mm), f/2.9 to f/5.7, providing extreme telephoto reach. This makes it valuable for users seeking one-lens convenience for varied shooting without gear changes.

The Sony NEX-3’s Sony E-mount supports a broad range of lenses (over 120 lenses at launch with ongoing expansion), including primes, zooms, macro, and professional-grade optics with wide apertures and image stabilization. The lens interchangeability future-proofs the system and caters to specialized photography.

Exposure Control and Creative Flexibility

• Olympus SP-810 UZ offers no manual exposure control, nor aperture or shutter priority, limiting creative photographic techniques such as long exposures or depth of field adjustment.

• Sony NEX-3 supports full manual exposure, shutter, and aperture priority modes, plus exposure compensation, granting photographers artistic and technical freedom crucial for disciplined workflows.

Continuous Shooting and Buffer Performance for Action

• The Sony NEX-3’s 7 fps burst is highly competitive for an entry-level mirrorless of its time, adequate for casual sports and wildlife shooting.

• The Olympus SP-810 UZ is limited to 0.7 fps, making it unsuitable for capturing rapid sequences.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance

• Olympus provides sensor-shift stabilization, assisting with handheld telephoto shots where the long zoom magnifies camera shake. This partially compensates for small sensor noise issues but cannot rectify depth-of-field limitations.

• The Sony NEX-3 lacks in-body stabilization but depends on optical stabilization in select E-mount lenses.

In low light, the NEX-3’s larger sensor and higher ISO range deliver superior noise control, crucial for night scenes, astrophotography, or evening events.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras offer 720p HD video at 30 fps in MPEG-4 format, with no 1080p support.

• The Olympus SP-810 UZ provides basic video with fixed lens zoom during recording and modest sound recording without external mic inputs.

• The Sony NEX-3 has slightly better exposure modes available during video and supports external flashes for stills but lacks microphone input as well, limiting audio quality enhancements.

Both are entry-level in video terms and are not recommended for serious videography beyond casual use.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

• Olympus SP-810 UZ uses an Olympus Li-50B rechargeable battery with unspecified CIPA rated shots; real-world shooting endurance is moderate.

• Sony NEX-3 uses the NP-FW50 battery, rated at approximately 330 shots per charge, better suited for daylong use, especially given the higher consumption of EVF-free mirrorless models.

Storage on both cameras is via a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card, with Sony also supporting Memory Stick formats, reflecting manufacturer ecosystem preferences.

Sony’s unique advantage includes Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility, a novelty in 2010 enabling basic wireless transfer, whereas Olympus offers no wireless features.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedness features like dustproofing or shock resistance. The Olympus’s weight and size impart a more robust hand feel, while the Sony’s compactness suggests delicate treatment in harsh environments.

Real-World Application Analysis by Photography Genre

Olympus SP 810 UZ front Olympus SP 810 UZ screen back Sony NEX 3 front Sony NEX 3 screen back

Portrait Photography

Sony NEX-3 excels in portraiture due to its large sensor enabling shallow depth of field and controlled bokeh. Face detection autofocus and raw support bring out natural skin tones and allow color grading in post.

Olympus SP-810 UZ tends to produce flatter skin tones and deeper depth of field, limiting artistic control. Lack of raw further constrains portrait workflow.

Landscape Photography

The NEX-3’s dynamic range and resolution give it an edge in capturing subtle tonal gradations in landscape light. Interchangeable lenses allow dedicated wide-angle and tilt-shift lenses for creative framing.

The SP-810 UZ’s extensive zoom is less essential here; moreover, small sensor dynamics reduce highlight recovery, making it more challenging in high contrast scenes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The Olympus’s 36× zoom is a notable advantage, reaching far-flung subjects without lens changes. However, slow autofocus and low FPS limit action capture.

The Sony NEX-3 requires telephoto lenses (added cost and weight) but compensates with faster AF and burst rates for moderate sports and wildlife photography.

Street Photography

Sony NEX-3’s compact dimensions facilitate discreet shooting scenarios. Higher ISO capability aids night streetscapes. The Olympus’s bulk and slower AF make it less practical.

Macro Photography

Sony’s lens interchangeability enables access to macro primes and tubes; its better screen helps in critical focus.

Olympus’s close focusing at 5 cm at the wide end is respectable but coupled with fixed optics, limits ultimate macro versatility.

Night and Astrophotography

The NEX-3’s high ISO ceiling and RAW support, alongside full manual exposure, make it far more effective for astrophotography.

Olympus faces limitations with noise and exposure inflexibility.

Video Use

Both limited to 720p Nikon MPEG-4 video; neither is ideal for serious video creation.

Travel and General Versatility

The Olympus benefits users wanting a single-camera, high-zoom solution without lens changes, albeit at the expense of image quality.

The Sony NEX-3 fits those prioritizing future expandability and higher overall image quality at the cost of carrying lenses and more careful planning.

Professional Workflows

Sony is more appropriate for semi-professional use thanks to raw capture, better sensor, and full creative controls.

Olympus, with its set-it-and-forget-it approach, suits novices or casual shooters who prioritize simplicity.

Performance Ratings Summary

• Measured by image quality, autofocus, handling, and versatility, the Sony NEX-3 scores markedly higher.
• Olympus SP-810 UZ rates moderately, reflecting limitations of small sensor compact bridge cameras.

Final Verdict: Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose Olympus SP-810 UZ If:

• You desire a superzoom all-in-one camera with no lens changes.
• Portability is secondary to zoom reach.
• You prefer a simplified interface without manual exposure complexity.
• Budget is tight - often found at lower price points due to older technology.
• Your photography primarily involves casual snapshots or distant subjects in good light.

Choose Sony Alpha NEX-3 If:

• You seek higher image quality with superior noise and dynamic range performance.
• Manual controls and creative exposure settings matter to you.
• You plan to grow your lens collection and need system flexibility.
• Low-light, portrait, landscape, or semi-professional work is prioritized.
• You require faster autofocus and better burst rates for action.
• Portability balanced with image quality is essential.

Conclusion

This comprehensive comparison highlights the critical differences between a small sensor bridge camera (Olympus SP-810 UZ) and an early mirrorless interchangeable lens system (Sony NEX-3). The Sony NEX-3’s substantial sensor size advantage, advanced AF flexibility, and creative control suite firmly position it as the superior choice for enthusiasts and entry-level professionals.

Conversely, the Olympus SP-810 UZ offers unmatched zoom reach in a straightforward package, appealing to casual users desiring an “all-in-one” without workflow or exposure complexity.

Ultimately, your choice should hinge on specific photographic requirements, prioritizing sensor performance, system growth potential, or telephoto convenience.

This analysis is informed by rigorous, hands-on testing under multiple shooting conditions, supported by standardized lab measurements and real-world usage scenarios, ensuring an evidence-based recommendation aligned with professional expectations.