Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 vs Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

76

Winner

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
1,083 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
73.0
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
921k dots
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
True resolution
High true resolution
16 MP
Olympus PEN E-PL2

49

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL2

"Its image capture would be limited only by your own expertise."
digital-photography-school.com | talking about the PEN E-PL2's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1300 ms startup delay
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
Around 3.5x more lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $484.99 vs $548.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $63 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Advantages of the Sony C3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 573 ISO
Help
The C3 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 55.0
Help
More than 30% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.2 EV
Help
2 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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 280 shots
Help
More than 40% more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
More than 60% larger sensor
Size Smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Focus points More focus points 25 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1300 ms
Help
Around 10% less delay when turning on
Weight Significantly lighter 225 g vs 362 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL2
49 vs 76
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX C3.

advice

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0
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by Amy-Elser this month
Sony C3 vs Sony NEX-3

I am essentially a beginner.  I'd like to  try to video my kids events and pull pictures from th...

1
votes
by Rajesh-Venkataraman last month
Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Sony C3

I am a point and shoot photographer. I would like to upgrade to a bit more professional camera b...

One person recommends the Sony C3:

" Although the Sony NEX C3 doesn't have a built in flash it would still be my top choice. The N..."

0
votes
by hardi last month
Canon G1X vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

beginner, easy to carry, fast focus

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-PL2:$484.99
C3:$548.00
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
PEN E-PL2:434 ms
C3:430 ms
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Weight Is slightly heavier
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Weight Is slightly heavier

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Color depth Better color depth
Screen size Much smaller screen
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Storage slots Has more storage slots
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Larger

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony NEX C3

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