Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-3
The Olympus PEN E-PM2 and the Sony Alpha NEX-3 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2012 and May 2010. Both the E-PM2 and the NEX-3 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (E-PM2) and an APS-C (NEX-3) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 14 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-PM2 and the Sony Alpha NEX-3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PM2 and the Sony NEX-3 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The E-PM2 can be obtained in four different colors (black, silver, red, white), while the NEX-3 is available in three color-versions (black, silver, red).
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony NEX-3 is somewhat larger (3 percent) than the Olympus E-PM2. Moreover, the NEX-3 is markedly heavier (10 percent) than the E-PM2. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-PM2 nor the NEX-3 are weather-sealed.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-PM2) and the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog (NEX-3). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.
Concerning battery life, the E-PM2 gets 360 shots out of its Olympus BLS-5 battery, while the NEX-3 can take 330 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack.
The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-PM2 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 34 mm | 269 g | 360 | n | Sep 2012 | 499 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony NEX-3 | 117 mm | 62 mm | 33 mm | 297 g | 330 | n | May 2010 | 599 | ebay.com | |
3. | Olympus E-M10 II | 120 mm | 83 mm | 47 mm | 390 g | 320 | n | Aug 2015 | 649 | ebay.com | |
4. | Olympus E-P5 | 122 mm | 69 mm | 37 mm | 420 g | 330 | n | May 2013 | 999 | ebay.com | |
5. | Olympus E-PL3 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 37 mm | 313 g | 300 | n | Jun 2011 | 599 | ebay.com | |
6. | Olympus E-PL5 | 111 mm | 64 mm | 38 mm | 325 g | 360 | n | Sep 2012 | 599 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus E-PL6 | 111 mm | 64 mm | 38 mm | 325 g | 360 | n | May 2013 | 599 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus E-PL7 | 115 mm | 67 mm | 38 mm | 357 g | 350 | n | Aug 2014 | 599 | ebay.com | |
9. | Olympus E-PL8 | 115 mm | 67 mm | 38 mm | 357 g | 350 | n | Sep 2016 | 549 | ebay.com | |
10. | Olympus E-PL9 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 39 mm | 380 g | 350 | n | Feb 2018 | 599 | ebay.com | |
11. | Olympus E-PM1 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 34 mm | 265 g | 330 | n | Jun 2011 | 499 | ebay.com | |
12. | Panasonic GX850 | 107 mm | 65 mm | 33 mm | 269 g | 210 | n | Jan 2017 | 549 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A5100 | 110 mm | 63 mm | 36 mm | 283 g | 400 | n | Aug 2014 | 549 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony NEX-3N | 110 mm | 62 mm | 35 mm | 269 g | 480 | n | Feb 2013 | 499 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony NEX-5 | 111 mm | 59 mm | 38 mm | 287 g | 330 | n | May 2010 | 699 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony NEX-5N | 111 mm | 59 mm | 38 mm | 269 g | 460 | n | Aug 2011 | 699 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony NEX-5R | 111 mm | 59 mm | 39 mm | 276 g | 330 | n | Aug 2012 | 749 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-PM2 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the NEX-3, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-PM2 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony NEX-3 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the NEX-3 is 62 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.5. The sensor in the E-PM2 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the NEX-3 offers a 3:2 aspect.
Despite having a smaller sensor, the Olympus E-PM2 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 14 MP of the Sony NEX-3. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 5.11μm for the NEX-3). However, it should be noted that the E-PM2 is much more recent (by 2 years and 4 months) than the NEX-3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.
The Olympus PEN E-PM2 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha NEX-3 are ISO 200 to ISO 12800 (no boost).
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under review, the E-PM2 has a notably higher overall DXO score than the NEX-3 (overall score 4 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.6 bits higher color depth, 0.2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-PM2 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.2 | 932 | 72 | |
2. | Sony NEX-3 | APS-C | 14.0 | 4592 | 3056 | 720/30p | 22.1 | 12.0 | 830 | 68 | |
3. | Olympus E-M10 II | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 23.1 | 12.5 | 842 | 73 | |
4. | Olympus E-P5 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 895 | 72 | |
5. | Olympus E-PL3 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 1080/60i | 20.9 | 10.3 | 499 | 52 | |
6. | Olympus E-PL5 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 12.3 | 889 | 72 | |
7. | Olympus E-PL6 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.5 | 12.0 | 717 | 68 | |
8. | Olympus E-PL7 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.4 | 873 | 72 | |
9. | Olympus E-PL8 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 23.0 | 12.6 | 1030 | 73 | |
10. | Olympus E-PL9 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1162 | 74 | |
11. | Olympus E-PM1 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 1080/60i | 21.0 | 10.3 | 499 | 52 | |
12. | Panasonic GX850 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 23.2 | 13.3 | 586 | 73 | |
13. | Sony A5100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.8 | 12.7 | 1347 | 80 | |
14. | Sony NEX-3N | APS-C | 16.0 | 4912 | 3264 | 1080/60i | 22.8 | 12.5 | 1067 | 74 | |
15. | Sony NEX-5 | APS-C | 14.0 | 4592 | 3056 | 1080/60i | 22.2 | 12.2 | 796 | 69 | |
16. | Sony NEX-5N | APS-C | 16.0 | 4912 | 3264 | 1080/60i | 23.6 | 12.7 | 1079 | 77 | |
17. | Sony NEX-5R | APS-C | 16.0 | 4912 | 3264 | 1080/60i | 23.7 | 13.1 | 910 | 78 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the E-PM2 provides a higher video resolution than the NEX-3. It can shoot video footage at 1080/30p, while the Sony is limited to 720/30p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The E-PM2 and the NEX-3 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. However, optional viewfinders – the VF-4 for the E-PM2 and the FDA-SV1 for the NEX-3 – are available as accessories. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony NEX-3 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-PM2 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
2. | Sony NEX-3 | optional | n | 3.0 / 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | n | n | |
3. | Olympus E-M10 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Olympus E-P5 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Olympus E-PL3 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 5.5/s | n | Y | |
6. | Olympus E-PL5 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
7. | Olympus E-PL6 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
8. | Olympus E-PL7 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
9. | Olympus E-PL8 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
10. | Olympus E-PL9 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
11. | Olympus E-PM1 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 5.5/s | n | Y | |
12. | Panasonic GX850 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/500s | 10.0/s | Y | n | |
13. | Sony A5100 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
14. | Sony NEX-3N | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | Y | n | |
15. | Sony NEX-5 | optional | n | 3.0 / 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | n | n | |
16. | Sony NEX-5N | optional | n | 3.0 / 920 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 10.0/s | n | n | |
17. | Sony NEX-5R | optional | n | 3.0 / 920 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 10.0/s | n | n | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One feature that differentiates the E-PM2 and the NEX-3 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The E-PM2 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the NEX-3 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.
The NEX-3 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the E-PM2 does not have a selfie-screen.The E-PM2 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the NEX-3 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The E-PM2 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the NEX-3 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus PEN E-PM2 and Sony Alpha NEX-3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-PM2 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
2. | Sony NEX-3 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
3. | Olympus E-M10 II | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
4. | Olympus E-P5 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
5. | Olympus E-PL3 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Olympus E-PL5 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
7. | Olympus E-PL6 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Olympus E-PL7 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
9. | Olympus E-PL8 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
10. | Olympus E-PL9 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
11. | Olympus E-PM1 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
12. | Panasonic GX850 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
13. | Sony A5100 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
14. | Sony NEX-3N | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
15. | Sony NEX-5 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
16. | Sony NEX-5N | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
17. | Sony NEX-5R | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - |
Both the E-PM2 and the NEX-3 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The NEX-3 was replaced by the Sony NEX-3N, while the E-PM2 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-PM2 and NEX-3 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-PM2 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony NEX-3 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Is the Olympus E-PM2 better than the Sony NEX-3 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.
Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PM2:
- Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/30p vs 720/30p).
- Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
- Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 4 months of technical progress since the NEX-3 launch.
Advantages of the Sony Alpha NEX-3:
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 460k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in May 2010).
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-PM2 is the clear winner of the match-up (8 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-PM2 and the Sony NEX-3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-PM2 or the NEX-3 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-PM2 | 3/5 | .. | .. | 77/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 499 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony NEX-3 | .. | .. | .. | 70/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | May 2010 | 599 | ebay.com | |
3. | Olympus E-M10 II | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 80/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Aug 2015 | 649 | ebay.com | |
4. | Olympus E-P5 | 5/5 | + + | .. | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | May 2013 | 999 | ebay.com | |
5. | Olympus E-PL3 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 72/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2011 | 599 | ebay.com | |
6. | Olympus E-PL5 | 3/5 | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 599 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus E-PL6 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | May 2013 | 599 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus E-PL7 | 4/5 | + | .. | .. | 5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2014 | 599 | ebay.com | |
9. | Olympus E-PL8 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2016 | 549 | ebay.com | |
10. | Olympus E-PL9 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2018 | 599 | ebay.com | |
11. | Olympus E-PM1 | .. | 86/100 | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2011 | 499 | ebay.com | |
12. | Panasonic GX850 | .. | + | .. | 76/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 549 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A5100 | 4.5/5 | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Aug 2014 | 549 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony NEX-3N | 3/5 | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2013 | 499 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony NEX-5 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | May 2010 | 699 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony NEX-5N | 3/5 | + + | .. | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2011 | 699 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony NEX-5R | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2012 | 749 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 7D vs Olympus E-PM2
- Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2
- Canon M vs Sony NEX-3
- Canon SX620 vs Sony NEX-3
- Fujifilm X-Pro3 vs Olympus E-PM2
- Fujifilm X10 vs Sony NEX-3
- Leica S2 vs Sony NEX-3
- Nikon D7000 vs Olympus E-PM2
- Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony NEX-3
- Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PM2
- Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FT7
- Sony H200 vs Sony NEX-3
Specifications: Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony NEX-3
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Olympus E-PM2 | Sony NEX-3 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | Sony E mount lenses |
Launch Date | September 2012 | May 2010 |
Launch Price | USD 499 | USD 599 |
Sensor Specs | Olympus E-PM2 | Sony NEX-3 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | APS-C Sensor |
Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 23.4 x 15.6 mm |
Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 365.04 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 28.1 mm |
Crop Factor | 2.0x | 1.5x |
Sensor Resolution | 15.9 Megapixels | 14 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 4608 x 3456 pixels | 4592 x 3056 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 3.76 μm | 5.11 μm |
Pixel Density | 7.08 MP/cm2 | 3.84 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | 720/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 25,600 ISO | 200 - 12,800 ISO |
Image Processor | TruePic VI | BIONZ |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 72 | 68 |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.7 | 22.1 |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.2 | 12.0 |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 932 | 830 |
Screen Specs | Olympus E-PM2 | Sony NEX-3 |
Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | Viewfinder optional |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 460k dots | 920k dots |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Tilting screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | no Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Olympus E-PM2 | Sony NEX-3 |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Continuous Shooting | 8 shutter flaps/s | 7 shutter flaps/s |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | Lens stabilization only |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | MS or SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | UHS-I | no |
Connectivity Specs | Olympus E-PM2 | Sony NEX-3 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | mini HDMI |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | no Wifi |
Body Specs | Olympus E-PM2 | Sony NEX-3 |
Battery Type | Olympus BLS-5 | Sony NP-FW50 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 360 shots per charge | 330 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
110 x 64 x 34 mm (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.3 in) |
117 x 62 x 33 mm (4.6 x 2.4 x 1.3 in) |
Camera Weight | 269 g (9.5 oz) | 297 g (10.5 oz) |
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