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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced 2 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS grades vs the NEX-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony NEX-3

 SZ-16 iHS NEX-3 
IntroducedJanuary 2013June 2010More recent by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 NEX-3 SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-3

 SZ-16 iHS NEX-3 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has physical dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-16 iHS against the NEX-3.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and NEX-3 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The visual here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and NEX-3.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-16 iHS having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will deliver more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography highlights
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
good resolution (14 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
41
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery power (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
27
provides face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-01-08 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 gr (0.50 pounds) 297 gr (0.65 pounds)
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 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
Battery type 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $230 $0