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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was announced 20 months later than the NEX-3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SZ-12 grades vs the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony NEX-3

 SZ-12 NEX-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2012June 2010More recent by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus SZ-12

 NEX-3 SZ-12 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-3

 SZ-12 NEX-3 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 offers exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 vs the NEX-3.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and NEX-3 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out specifications. The graphic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and NEX-3.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-12 includes the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF tougher. The younger SZ-12 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography details
33
good resolution (14MP)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
72
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
52
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography information
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging information
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
27
provides face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-10 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
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 Overall 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
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) 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
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $350 $0