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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Refreshed by Sony a5000
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very similar but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 13 months before the NEX-3N making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SZ-12 scores vs the NEX-3N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SZ-12 NEX-3N 

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

 NEX-3N SZ-12 
LaunchedFebruary 2013January 2012More modern by 13 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

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

 SZ-12 NEX-3N 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the NEX-3N.

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

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and NEX-3N is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading a spec sheet. The pic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and NEX-3N.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-3N will offer greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography information
33
MP count decent (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
66
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Sony NEX-3N Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
77
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3N
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery (480 per charge)
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
better than average battery (480 per charge)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography advice
40
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (480 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-02-25
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 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) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 480 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $350 $399