Olympus PEN Lite
E-PL3
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-5N

Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

53

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus E-PL3
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 8 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Focus points Slightly more focus points 35 vs 25
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $399.00 vs $656.43
Help
 The best price we've seen is $257 cheaper (around 40% less)
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PL3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 52.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 499 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 20.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2100 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when turning on
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 5.5 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Weight Slightly lighter 287 g vs 313 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
53 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
E-PL3:12,800 ISO
NEX-5:None
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
E-PL3:12.2 MP
NEX-5:14 MP
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

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $499 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NX1000 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the NX1000 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
3D Takes 3D photos
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$956 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Color depth Better color depth
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Autofocus Faster autofocus
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Size Larger
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

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