Nikon
D5100
 vs
Olympus PEN
E-P3

Updated (May, 2013): Compare the Nikon D5200 vs Olympus Pen E-P5

Nikon D5100

100

  
Olympus PEN E-P3

37

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P3

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P3

Size
 Really small
Mid size 122x69x34 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen type
 OLED Screen
Bright and vivid
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 51.0
Help
 Around 60% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 2.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.7 more bits of color
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the E-P3
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 900 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Olympus E-P3
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Screen type Has an OLED screen OLED vs LCD
Help
 OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens
Size Significantly smaller 122x69x34 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 3.3x smaller
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Focus points More focus points 35 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.3x thinner
Weight Lighter 369 g vs 560 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $369.00 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $128 cheaper (around 30% less)
Olympus PEN E-P3 Learn more about
the Olympus E-P3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 37
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-P3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D5100:500 ms
E-P3:900 ms
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
E-P3:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PEN E-P3

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Slightly smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Focus points More focus points
Battery life Shorter battery life
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100

Olympus PEN E-P3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$956 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Larger
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the PEN E-P3

appearance

Nikon D5100 Olympus PEN E-P3
Nikon D5100 Olympus PEN E-P3
Nikon D5100 Olympus PEN E-P3

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