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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Announced June 2013
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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony NEX-3

 SZ-15 NEX-3 
LaunchedJune 2013June 2010More recent by 37 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus SZ-15

 NEX-3 SZ-15 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-3

 SZ-15 NEX-3 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
Sony NEX-3 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
76
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competitors (250g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
59
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
49
manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
27
features face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-06-21 2010-06-07
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 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
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 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" 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 - 330 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $200 $0