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Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3

Portability
58
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 30D front
 
Olympus E-3 front
Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Key Specs

Canon 30D
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 784g - 144 x 106 x 74mm
  • Introduced April 2006
  • Older Model is Canon 20D
  • Later Model is Canon 40D
Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
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Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Canon 30D and Olympus E-3, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the 30D (8MP) and the E-3 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the 30D (APS-C) and E-3 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor size.

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The 30D was revealed 22 months before the E-3 making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the 30D grades vs the E-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 30D over the Olympus E-3

 30D E-3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Canon 30D

 E-3 30D 
ReleasedFebruary 2008April 2006Newer by 22 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon 30D and Olympus E-3

 30D E-3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display dimensions2.5"2.5"Equal display size
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Canon 30D features outer dimensions of 144mm x 106mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") with a weight of 784 grams (1.73 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-3 has specifications of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs).

Check out the Canon 30D and Olympus E-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the 30D compared to the E-3.

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 30D and E-3 is 58 and 56 respectively.

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 30D and E-3.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 30D with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-3 will give greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged 30D is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 sensor size comparison

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 30D Portrait photography details
Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
51
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
low resolution sensor (8MP)
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 30D as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
52
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
69
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
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Sports Comparison

Canon 30D Sports photography information
Olympus E-3 Sports photography information
44
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 30D
Travel photography with Olympus E-3
42
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 30D Landscape photography details
Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
46
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 30D Vlogging factors
Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
18
no video
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Canon 30D vs Olympus E-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 30D and Olympus E-3
 Canon EOS 30DOlympus E-3
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon EOS 30D Olympus E-3
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2006-04-04 2008-02-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 22.5 x 15mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 337.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 10MP
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 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 326 45
Focal length multiplier 1.6 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.5 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.58x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 784 gr (1.73 lb) 890 gr (1.96 lb)
Physical dimensions 144 x 106 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.9") 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 59 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 10.5
DXO Low light rating 736 571
Other
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $773 $670