Olympus SH-3 vs Sony NEX-3

Lets look more closely at the Olympus SH-3 and Sony NEX-3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is pretty close but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The SH-3 was revealed 5 years later than the NEX-3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SH-3 scores against the NEX-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-3 and Sony Alpha NEX-3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SH-3 Gallery and Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 provides outer measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while 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).

Analyze the Olympus SH-3 and Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SH-3 and the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and NEX-3 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The photograph here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and NEX-3.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SH-3 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus SH-3 will result in extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.