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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-M1 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was brought out 6 years before the E-M1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-3 grades versus the E-M1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-3 E-M1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-3

 E-M1 E-3 
LaunchedOctober 2013February 2008Newer by 69 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M1

 E-3 E-M1 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 provides exterior dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 has measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-3 vs the E-M1.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and E-M1 is 56 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specifications. The pic here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and E-M1.

To sum up, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-M1 to give you greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
71
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/320s)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography information
Olympus E-M1 Street photography information
69
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery life (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
65
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
weather sealing
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
low battery life (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography features
56
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have Timelapse function
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
low battery life (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-M1 Vlogging factors
18
lack of video recording
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone port
lighter than competition in class (497g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M1
 Olympus E-3Olympus OM-D E-M1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus OM-D E-M1
Type Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-02-20 2013-10-28
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePIC VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 497 gr (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.7
DXO Low light score 571 757
Other
Battery life - 350 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $670 $799