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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 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
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
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
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both are offered by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-500 (8MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was brought out 2 years after the E-500 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-3 matches up vs the E-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-3 E-500 
RevealedFebruary 2008October 2005More modern by 29 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

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

 E-500 E-3 

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

 E-3 E-500 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing2.5"2.5"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 has got outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Olympus E-500 has specifications of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-3 and the E-500.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and E-500 is 56 and 70 respectively.

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

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and E-500.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-3 to produce greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher E-3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low resolution (8MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Olympus E-500 Street photography info
69
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average (479 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography info
Olympus E-500 Sports photography info
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proof
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Olympus E-500
55
weather proof
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low resolution (8MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
56
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
tiny screen (2.5")
low resolution (10MP)
lack of Timelapse function
43
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
18
can't shoot video
9
no video
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-500
 Olympus E-3Olympus E-500
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus E-500
Also called as - EVOLT E-500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-02-20 2005-10-21
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 10MP 8MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3264 x 2448
Maximum native ISO 3200 400
Maximum boosted ISO - 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 3
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 Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 215k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.45x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Maximum 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 479 grams (1.06 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $670 $600