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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched February 2011
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-10 was launched 9 months later than the NEX-3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the SZ-10 matches up against the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony NEX-3

 SZ-10 NEX-3 
IntroducedFebruary 2011June 2010More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus SZ-10

 NEX-3 SZ-10 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony NEX-3

 SZ-10 NEX-3 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 provides external measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-10 versus the NEX-3.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and NEX-3 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-10 and NEX-3.

To sum up, the two cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-10 contains the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more difficult. The newer SZ-10 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-10
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
33
good MP (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
72
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (215g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography details
40
great zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than others in class (215g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
great reach (504mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery life (220 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
59
decent MP (14MP)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
40
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (215g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
27
offers face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-10 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-02-08 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215g (0.47 lb) 297g (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 330 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $300 $0