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Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
51
Imaging
51
Features
54
Overall
52
Canon EOS-1D Mark III front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs

Canon 1D MIII
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-H Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 1335g - 156 x 157 x 80mm
  • Released February 2007
  • Superseded the Canon 1D MII N
  • Later Model is Canon 1D MIV
Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
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Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon 1D MIII versus Olympus E-P3, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the 1D MIII (10MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the 1D MIII (APS-H) and E-P3 (Four Thirds) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1D MIII was unveiled 5 years prior to the E-P3 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Canon 1D MIII being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the 1D MIII scores vs the E-P3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 1D MIII over the Olympus E-P3

 1D MIII E-P3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Canon 1D MIII

 E-P3 1D MIII 
AnnouncedAugust 2011February 2007More recent by 54 months
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon 1D MIII and Olympus E-P3

 1D MIII E-P3 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon 1D MIII comes with outside dimensions of 156mm x 157mm x 80mm (6.1" x 6.2" x 3.1") having a weight of 1335 grams (2.94 lbs) and the Olympus E-P3 has specifications of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

Examine the Canon 1D MIII versus Olympus E-P3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the 1D MIII and the E-P3.

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1D MIII and E-P3 is 51 and 86 respectively.

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The visual underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1D MIII and E-P3.

Plainly, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 1D MIII using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-P3 will produce more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The older 1D MIII will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 1D MIII Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
62
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/300 seconds)
nice sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 1D MIII Street photography details
Olympus E-P3 Street photography details
54
nice sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon 1D MIII Sports photography info
Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
nice sensor size (APS-H)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon 1D MIII Travel photography details
Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
43
weather proofing
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
boasts touch to focus
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 1D MIII Landscape photography details
Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography details
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF mount)
nice screen size (3")
nice sensor size (APS-H)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 1D MIII as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
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Canon 1D MIII vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 1D MIII and Olympus E-P3
 Canon EOS-1D Mark IIIOlympus PEN E-P3
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon EOS-1D Mark III Olympus PEN E-P3
Class Pro DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2007-02-22 2011-08-17
Body design Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-H Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 28.7 x 18.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 536.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 3888 x 2592 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 45 35
Cross type focus points 19 -
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 250 107
Crop factor 1.3 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 200)
Flash settings External Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/300 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1335 grams (2.94 pounds) 369 grams (0.81 pounds)
Dimensions 156 x 157 x 80mm (6.1" x 6.2" x 3.1") 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 51
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 10.1
DXO Low light rating 1078 536
Other
Battery life 2200 photos 330 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Two Single
Retail price $4,399 $0