Canon S100 vs Olympus E-3

Here, we will be analyzing the Canon S100 and Olympus E-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the S100 (12MP) and the E-3 (10MP) is relatively close but the S100 (1/1.7") and E-3 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The S100 was brought out 3 years later than the E-3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Canon S100 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the S100 matches up vs the E-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot S100 & Olympus E-3. The entire galleries are available at Canon S100 Gallery & Olympus E-3 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Canon S100 offers external measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 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).

Compare the Canon S100 and Olympus E-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the S100 versus the E-3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S100 and E-3 is 93 and 56 respectively.

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the S100 and E-3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The S100 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Canon S100 will render greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer S100 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.