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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Replacement is Sony a5000
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-3N, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is fairly similar but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The VG-160 was brought out 13 months earlier than the NEX-3N making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the VG-160 matches up vs the NEX-3N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony NEX-3N

 VG-160 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Olympus VG-160

 NEX-3N VG-160 
LaunchedFebruary 2013January 2012Fresher by 13 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-3N

 VG-160 NEX-3N 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has specifications of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-3N in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-160 and the NEX-3N.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and NEX-3N is 96 and 89 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The visual below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and NEX-3N.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VG-160 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-3N will offer you more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older VG-160 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography highlights
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3N Street photography details
56
lighter than competition in class (125g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-160
Sports photography with Sony NEX-3N
26
good MP (14MP)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (165 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery (480 per charge)
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (125g)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery (165 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery (480 CIPA)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography info
36
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery (165 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (480 shots)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging details
30
relatively wide (26mm)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic port
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus VG-160Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-160 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-02-25
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 16000
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus distance 7cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed - 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.80 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 165 shots 480 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $90 $399