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Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3

Portability
59
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 20D front
 
Olympus E-3 front
Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Key Specs

Canon 20D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 770g - 144 x 106 x 72mm
  • Launched November 2004
  • Superseded the Canon 10D
  • Refreshed by Canon 30D
Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
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Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Canon 20D versus Olympus E-3, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the 20D (8MP) and the E-3 (10MP) is relatively close but the 20D (APS-C) and E-3 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The 20D was unveiled 4 years earlier than the E-3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the 20D scores vs the E-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 20D over the Olympus E-3

 20D E-3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Canon 20D

 E-3 20D 
IntroducedFebruary 2008November 2004Newer by 40 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size2.5"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution230k118kSharper screen (+112k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon 20D and Olympus E-3

 20D E-3 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon 20D comes with outside measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") having a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) while the Olympus E-3 has proportions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs).

See the Canon 20D versus Olympus E-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the 20D and the E-3.

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 20D and E-3 is 59 and 56 respectively.

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The pic below should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the 20D and E-3.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 20D having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-3 will result in extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged 20D will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 sensor size comparison

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 20D
Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
47
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
no manual control
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
57
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 20D as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
53
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
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Sports Comparison

Canon 20D Sports photography information
Olympus E-3 Sports photography information
44
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 20D Travel photography info
Olympus E-3 Travel photography info
46
flash built-in
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
55
weather sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 20D as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
46
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (1.8 inches)
no liveview
no manual control
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
56
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
small screen (2.5")
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 20D Vlogging advice
Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
9
no video recording
18
no video recording
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Canon 20D vs Olympus E-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 20D and Olympus E-3
 Canon EOS 20DOlympus E-3
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon EOS 20D Olympus E-3
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2004-11-03 2008-02-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 3504 x 2336 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 326 45
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 1.8 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 118 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.58x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic 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 770 grams (1.70 pounds) 890 grams (1.96 pounds)
Physical dimensions 144 x 106 x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 62 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 10.5
DXO Low light rating 721 571
Other
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,300 $670