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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus E-5 front
Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 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
  • Launched February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus E-5, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E-5 (12MP) is fairly similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was unveiled 3 years prior to the E-5 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-3 matches up against the E-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-5

 E-3 E-5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-3

 E-5 E-3 
RevealedFebruary 2011February 2008Fresher by 35 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-5

 E-3 E-5 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 enjoys outer measurements 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-5 has sizing of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus E-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-3 and the E-5.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and E-5 is 56 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and E-5.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-5 to offer you more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Olympus E-5
69
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
71
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-5 Sports photography factors
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
56
environment proofing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
tiny screen (2.5")
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
missing Timelapse recording
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Olympus E-5
18
no video recording
64
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
includes microphone port
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-5
 Olympus E-3Olympus E-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus E-5
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-02-20 2011-02-03
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic V+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 45
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - HyperCrystal transmissive LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.58x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 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 18.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 10.5
DXO Low light rating 571 519
Other
Battery life - 870 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLM-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 2
Retail cost $670 $1,700