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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus FE-5020 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Alternative Name is X-935
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus FE-5020, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the FE-5020 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FE-5020 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-3 was brought out 17 months before the FE-5020 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-3 grades versus the FE-5020 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus FE-5020

 E-3 FE-5020 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Olympus E-3

 FE-5020 E-3 
ReleasedJuly 2009February 2008Fresher by 17 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus FE-5020

 E-3 FE-5020 
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 features external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus FE-5020 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus FE-5020 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-3 versus the FE-5020.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and FE-5020 is 56 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and FE-5020.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-3 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus FE-5020 will result in greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus FE-5020 as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Olympus FE-5020 Street photography info
69
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
60
environment sealing
lighter than others in class (137 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography advice
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (10 megapixels)
24
environment sealing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus FE-5020 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment sealing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
65
lighter than others in class (137 grams)
environment sealing
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Olympus FE-5020
56
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
31
relatively wide (24mm)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging info
Olympus FE-5020 Vlogging info
18
can't shoot video
28
relatively wide (24mm)
lighter than others in class (137 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus FE-5020 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus FE-5020
 Olympus E-3Olympus FE-5020
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus FE-5020
Alternative name - X-935
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-02-20 2009-07-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 lbs) 137 grams (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery model - LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card xD-Picture Card, microSD
Card slots One One
Retail cost $670 $160