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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced July 2011
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively close but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-11 was introduced 14 months later than the NEX-3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SZ-11 scores vs the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony NEX-3

 SZ-11 NEX-3 
IntroducedJuly 2011June 2010More recent by 14 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus SZ-11

 NEX-3 SZ-11 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-3

 SZ-11 NEX-3 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 features external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-11 and the NEX-3.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and NEX-3 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through specifications. The visual underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-11 and NEX-3.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with the identical megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The SZ-11 comes with the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more modern SZ-11 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-11
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
has manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
76
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography info
43
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
52
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
40
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
27
has face detection focus
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-07-27 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias 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 files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 297g (0.65 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life 200 shots 330 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $253 $0