Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 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-PL1

44

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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 Cheaper $259.99 vs $548.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $288 cheaper (2.1x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Sony C3

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 487 ISO
Help
The C3 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the PEN E-PL1
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 54.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1200 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 430 ms vs 820 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
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
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
Record movies without worrying about focus
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The C3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 290 shots
Help
Around 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
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% 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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Weight Lighter 225 g vs 334 g
Help
More than 30% 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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
44 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 Emily-Bahne last month
Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus PEN E-PL1

I'm a beginner. I'm going to be traveling all over the world and I want a camera that is light and...

0
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by trixie-bird last week
Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Intermediate.  Want to take pictures or people and landscapes.

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
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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..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-PL1:$259.99
C3:$548.00
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
PEN E-PL1:820 ms
C3:430 ms
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
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 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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
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-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Size Slightly larger
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-PL1 Sony NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony NEX C3

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