Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3
65 Imaging
41 Features
38 Overall
39


56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48
Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 1600
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
- Introduced September 2006
(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
- Introduced February 2008
- Older Model is Olympus E-1
- Refreshed by Olympus E-5

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Overview
Its time to look closer at the Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Leica and Olympus. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the Digilux 3 (7MP) and E-3 (10MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

The Digilux 3 was revealed 17 months prior to the E-3 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).
Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the Digilux 3 matches up against the E-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Leica Digilux 3 & Olympus E-3. The full galleries are viewable at Leica Digilux 3 Gallery & Olympus E-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Leica Digilux 3 over the Olympus E-3
Digilux 3 | E-3 |
---|
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Leica Digilux 3
E-3 | Digilux 3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2008 | ![]() | September 2006 | Fresher by 17 months |
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 207k | Sharper display (+23k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Leica Digilux 3 and Olympus E-3
Digilux 3 | E-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display size | 2.5" | ![]() | 2.5" | Same display dimensions |
Touch display | ![]() | Neither includes Touch display |
Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Leica Digilux 3 features outside measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Olympus E-3 has specifications of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs).
Analyze the Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the Digilux 3 vs the E-3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Digilux 3 and E-3 is 65 and 56 respectively.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the Digilux 3 and E-3.
As you can tell, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus E-3 to deliver greater detail because of its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older Digilux 3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-3 Specifications
Leica Digilux 3 | Olympus E-3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Leica | Olympus |
Model type | Leica Digilux 3 | Olympus E-3 |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Introduced | 2006-09-14 | 2008-02-20 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | TruePic III |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | Four Thirds |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 7 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 |
Full resolution | 3136 x 2352 | 3648 x 2736 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 3 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Number of lenses | 45 | 45 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display diagonal | 2.5 inch | 2.5 inch |
Resolution of display | 207 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.47x | 0.58x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | B+s | 60s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 3.0 frames/s | 5.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | - | 13.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | 1/160s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Max video resolution | None | None |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | 606g (1.34 lb) | 890g (1.96 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") | 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 56 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 21.6 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 10.5 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 571 |
Other | ||
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/MMC card | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $1,999 | $670 |