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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
  • New Model is Olympus VR-330
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
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-F3
  • Successor is Sony a5000
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very similar but the VR-320 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The VR-320 was revealed 19 months before the NEX-3N making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the VR-320 grades vs the NEX-3N with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Sony NEX-3N

 VR-320 NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Olympus VR-320

 NEX-3N VR-320 
LaunchedFebruary 2013July 2011Fresher by 19 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Sony NEX-3N

 VR-320 NEX-3N 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus VR-320 has external dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the VR-320 compared to the NEX-3N.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and NEX-3N is 94 and 89 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-320 and NEX-3N.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VR-320 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-3N will offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older VR-320 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-320
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3N
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Street photography information
Sony NEX-3N Street photography information
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (158g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
77
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography info
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
53
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery (480 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VR-320
Travel photography with Sony NEX-3N
70
lighter than others (158 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
better than average battery (480 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography information
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (480 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VR-320
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3N
32
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than others (158g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic port
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus VR-320Sony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VR-320 Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-07-19 2013-02-25
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III 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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias 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 support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 1067
Other
Battery life - 480 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $179 $399