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Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F1.8-2.7) lens
  • 221g - 102 x 61 x 34mm
  • Released January 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
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus XZ-10 versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the XZ-10 (12MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very well matched but the XZ-10 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The XZ-10 was introduced 2 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the XZ-10 matches up vs the NEX-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-10 over the Sony NEX-3

 XZ-10 NEX-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2013June 2010Fresher by 33 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus XZ-10

 NEX-3 XZ-10 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus XZ-10 and Sony NEX-3

 XZ-10 NEX-3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution920k920kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-10 comes with outer dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and 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).

Compare the Olympus XZ-10 versus Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the XZ-10 against the NEX-3.

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-10 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The visual here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-10 and NEX-3.

Plainly, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The XZ-10 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony NEX-3 will give more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern XZ-10 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-10
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
45
manual focus
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus XZ-10
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (221g)
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-10 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-10 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
60
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (221g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-10 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography info
53
manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-10 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
heavier than average in class (221g)
27
offers face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus XZ-10 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-10 and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus Stylus XZ-10Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-01-30 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-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 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps, 18Mbps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps, 9Mbps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 221 gr (0.49 pounds) 297 gr (0.65 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 61 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 240 images 330 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $428 $0