Olympus VR-330 vs Sony NEX-F3

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus VR-330 vs Sony NEX-F3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the VR-330 (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The VR-330 was revealed 18 months earlier than the NEX-F3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VR-330 scores vs the NEX-F3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VR-330 and Sony Alpha NEX-F3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus VR-330 Gallery and Sony NEX-F3 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-330 comes with exterior dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

See the Olympus VR-330 vs Sony NEX-F3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the VR-330 compared to the NEX-F3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-330 and NEX-F3 is 94 and 86 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-330 and NEX-F3.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VR-330 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-F3 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older VR-330 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.