Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 3 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SZ-15 grades vs the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 provides external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-15 against the NEX-3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and NEX-3 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Usually, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The photograph here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and NEX-3.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-15 will deliver greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger SZ-15 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.