• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  •  
  • Detailed specifications
  • Olympus PEN E-PL1
  • Sony Alpha NEX-3
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Sony NEX-3N
NEX-3 vs NEX-3N
General
Model Number: E-PL1 NEX-3
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Compact System Camera Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $599.95 $599.99
Street Price: $391.65  
Date Available: 2010-04-01 2010-07-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 17.0 oz (482 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
18.0 oz (511 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 4.5 x 2.8 x 1.6 in.
(115 x 72 x 42 mm)
4.6 x 2.5 x 1.3 in.
(117 x 63 x 33 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: Live MOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Panasonic Sony
Effective Megapixels: 12.3 14.2
Sensor Format: 4/3 APS-C
Sensor size: 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm) 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.29 microns 5.16 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 2.0x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2, 16:9
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 54 68
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.5 22.1
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 10.1 12.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 487 830
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4032 x 3042 (12.3 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3)
4592 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4592 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3344 x 2224 (7.4 MP, 3:2),
3344 x 1872 (6.3 MP, Other),
2288 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
2288 x 1280 (2.9 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2), RAW (.ORF) JPEG, .ARW RAW, RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.0 2.7
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MPEG-4
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Lens: Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 L ED M.Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Sony SEL1855 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 28 - 84mm 27 - 83mm
Focal Length (actual): 14 - 42mm 18 - 55mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x 3.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22 f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - 34 (T)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 40.5mm 49.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a Up to 10x Precision digital zoom with prime lens attached
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 11-point contrast detection w/ tracking Contrast Detect: 25-area, Center, Flexible Spot; with Face Detection
Auto Focus Assist Light? No Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD LCD
Viewfinder Type: Optional external shoe-mount electronic viewfinder (VF-2) (Optional FDA-SV1 optical viewfinder available with 16mm FOV)
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.7 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 921,600 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x 13.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):    
Minimum ISO (native):    
ISO Settings: Auto (200 - 3200), 100 - 3200 (1/3, 1 EV steps) Auto (200-1600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent 1/2/3, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temp./Filter, Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 1/2000 - 60 sec 1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 324-zone Digital ESP, Center Weighted Average, Spot (with Highlight/Shadow mode) Multi-segment (49 segments), Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: 19 Scene Mode, 8 Art Filters Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night View, Hand-held Twilight, Sweep Panorama
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: TTL-Auto, Auto, Manual, Off Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear sync., Slow sync., Red-eye reduction
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 7.0 m / 23.0 ft. 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens aperture Bundled flash has GN of 7m/ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe Smart Accessory Terminal (flash is detachable)
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (.ORF) .ARW RAW, RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MPEG-4
Included Memory: No memory included  
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No
Remote Control Type:    
Connections (extended): Accessory port, Multi Connector (USB/AV), Mini HDMI Mini HDMI (Type C)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 1.60 0.77
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 1.60 0.77
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited 17
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.0 2.7
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 15 38
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.95 seconds 0.44 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.89 seconds 0.44 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.202 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 1.13 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.070 seconds 0.115 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full AF with other M.Zuiko lenses: 17mm f/2.8 = 0.858s 9-18mm f/4-5.6 @ 18mm = 0.546s  
Startup Time: 2.2 seconds 1.0 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 1.1 seconds 1.0 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 4.2 seconds 2.8 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 290 shots 330 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BLS-1 Proprietary InfoLithium NP-FW50
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BLS-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM PMB (Picture Motion Browser) 4.3.01 Image Data Converter SR 3.1 Image Data Lightbox SR
OS Compatibility: Windows, MacOS Windows 2000/XP/Vista; Mac OS X 10.1.3 or later
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Cost reduced E-P2 with built-in flash. Available in Champagne Gold, Black and Slate Blue. Available in black, silver or red.