• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  •  
  • 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 300.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Sony NEX-3 advantages over Olympus Stylus 1

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $700 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/1.7 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.16 vs 1.92 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Fast startup
    ~1.00 vs 1.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    830 vs 179 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Thinner
    33 mm vs 56 mm
    Thinner
  • More pixels
    14.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Olympus Stylus 1 advantages over Sony NEX-3

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 410 vs 330 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.27 vs 0.44 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.1 fps vs 2.7 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 38 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony NEX-3

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus Stylus 1
Olympus Stylus 1
All Stylus 1 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • High-quality constant aperture 10.7x zoom lens with excellent performance; Very affordable for what it delivers; Ergonomically sound with a solid, professional feel; Highly customizable; Fast overall performance; Built-in EVF and tilting touchscreen LCD; Automatic lens cap.

  • Smaller sensor size than 1-inch and Micro Four Thirds models mean far lower image quality as ISO tops 800; 28mm eq. is not as wide as some competitors and not overly suited for landscape photography.

  • Read our Olympus Stylus 1 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony NEX-5

Sony NEX-3
Sony NEX-5
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $700
  • APS-C

Compare Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5

Olympus Stylus 1
Sony NEX-5
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus Stylus 1 vs Sony NEX-5

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-3
Sony NEX-C3
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-C3

Olympus Stylus 1
Sony NEX-C3
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus Stylus 1 vs Sony NEX-C3

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-3
Sony NEX-5N
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony NEX-3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Olympus Stylus 1
Sony NEX-5N
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus Stylus 1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Compared to Nikon P7100

Sony NEX-3
Nikon P7100
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $500
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-3 vs Nikon P7100

Olympus Stylus 1
Nikon P7100
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $500
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoots 24p video

Compare Olympus Stylus 1 vs Nikon P7100

Compared to Olympus Stylus 1s

Sony NEX-3
Olympus Stylus 1s
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-3 vs Olympus Stylus 1s

Olympus Stylus 1
Olympus Stylus 1s
  • $449
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $549
  • 1/1.7 inch

Compare Olympus Stylus 1 vs Olympus Stylus 1s

Compare Other Cameras?