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Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3

Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75
Nikon D800 front
 
Olympus E-3 front
Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Key Specs

Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D700
  • Updated by Nikon D810
Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
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Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the D800 (36MP) and E-3 (10MP) and the D800 (Full frame) and E-3 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor sizes.

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The D800 was manufactured 4 years after the E-3 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the D800 matches up versus the E-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Olympus E-3

 D800 E-3 
IntroducedJune 2012February 2008Newer by 53 months
Screen size3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Nikon D800

 E-3 D800 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon D800 and Olympus E-3

 D800 E-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon D800 comes with outside dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs) and the Olympus E-3 has proportions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the D800 and the E-3.

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the D800 and E-3 is 54 and 56 respectively.

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The pic here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the D800 and E-3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The D800 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Nikon D800 will give more detail due to its extra 26MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer D800 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 sensor size comparison

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D800 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-3 Portrait photography info
83
focusing manually
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
57
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D800 Street photography details
Olympus E-3 Street photography details
60
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D800 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
58
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D800 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-3 Travel photography factors
66
weather proof
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
55
environment proof
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D800 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
no image stabilization
56
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
screen is small (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D800
Vlogging with Olympus E-3
30
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
18
no video
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Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D800 and Olympus E-3
 Nikon D800Olympus E-3
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D800 Olympus E-3
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-06-11 2008-02-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 3 TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 7360 x 4912 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 51 11
Cross type focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 309 45
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.58x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 900 gr (1.98 pounds) 890 gr (1.96 pounds)
Physical dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 95 56
DXO Color Depth rating 25.3 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.4 10.5
DXO Low light rating 2853 571
Other
Battery life 900 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL15 -
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Dual 1
Retail price $2,999 $670