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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-F3
  • Newer Model is Sony a5000
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-3N, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is relatively well matched but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was announced 4 months later than the NEX-3N and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-15 matches up against the NEX-3N for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 SZ-15 NEX-3N 

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

 NEX-3N SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

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

 SZ-15 NEX-3N 
RevealedJune 2013February 2013Similar generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 features exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3N has dimensions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-15 vs the NEX-3N.

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

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and NEX-3N is 88 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and NEX-3N.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-15 has the tinier sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging.

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

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

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography details
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3N Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
77
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3N
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
53
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (480 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery pack (480 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3N
49
manual focus
decently wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (480 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-06-21 2013-02-25
Physical type 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 16000
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
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
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 480 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $200 $399