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Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Leica Digilux 3 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Leica Digilux 3
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Released September 2006
Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
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Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Leica Digilux 3 versus Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Leica and Olympus. The image resolution of the Digilux 3 (7MP) and the E-500 (8MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The Digilux 3 was unveiled 11 months after the E-500 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the Digilux 3 grades vs the E-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Leica Digilux 3 over the Olympus E-500

 Digilux 3 E-500 
LaunchedSeptember 2006October 2005More modern by 11 months

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Leica Digilux 3

 E-500 Digilux 3 
Screen resolution215k207kCrisper screen (+8k dot)

Common features in the Leica Digilux 3 and Olympus E-500

 Digilux 3 E-500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.5"2.5"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Leica Digilux 3 provides external dimensions of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") having a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Olympus E-500 has specifications of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Compare the Leica Digilux 3 versus Olympus E-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the Digilux 3 vs the E-500.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Digilux 3 and E-500 is 65 and 70 respectively.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the Digilux 3 and E-500.

To sum up, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-500 to render greater detail having an extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern Digilux 3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
54
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (7MP)
48
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8MP)
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Street Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Street photography factors
Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
58
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (606g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
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Sports Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Sports photography details
Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica Digilux 3
Travel photography with Olympus E-500
50
lighter than competition in class (606 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (7MP)
display is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than others in class (479g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica Digilux 3
Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (7 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
43
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica Digilux 3 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-500 Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
9
can't shoot video
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Leica Digilux 3 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica Digilux 3 and Olympus E-500
 Leica Digilux 3Olympus E-500
General Information
Brand Leica Olympus
Model type Leica Digilux 3 Olympus E-500
Otherwise known as - EVOLT E-500
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2006-09-14 2005-10-21
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 3136 x 2352 3264 x 2448
Max native ISO 1600 400
Max enhanced ISO - 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
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 3 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 45
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 207 thousand dot 215 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x 0.45x
Features
Minimum shutter speed B+s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
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
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
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 606g (1.34 lbs) 479g (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,999 $600