Olympus 1 vs Sony NEX-3

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus 1 and Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty close but the 1 (1/1.7") and NEX-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The 1 was brought out 3 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the 1 grades against the NEX-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 1 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The entire galleries are available at Olympus 1 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 1 has external measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Olympus 1 and Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the 1 and the NEX-3.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 and NEX-3 is 79 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The graphic below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 and NEX-3.

Plainly, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern 1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.