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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E-420 (10MP) is fairly comparable and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was released 4 months earlier than the E-420 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-3 scores vs the E-420 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-420

 E-3 E-420 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-3

 E-420 E-3 
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-420

 E-3 E-420 
LaunchedFebruary 2008June 2008Same generation
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 has got physical dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Olympus E-420 has sizing of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-3 against the E-420.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and E-420 is 56 and 77 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and E-420.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of pictures though you will want to take the release date of the cameras into account.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Olympus E-420 Street photography details
69
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-420 Travel photography highlights
55
environment proof
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
52
lighter than competition (426g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
56
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
resolution not great (10MP)
lack of Timelapse function
47
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Olympus E-420 Vlogging information
18
no video shooting
9
no video
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-420
 Olympus E-3Olympus E-420
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus E-420
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2008-02-20 2008-06-23
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III 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 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 45
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lb) 426 grams (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 56
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 10.4
DXO Low light score 571 527
Other
Battery life - 500 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots One One
Retail price $670 $999