Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48


67 Imaging
62 Features
96 Overall
75
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
- Introduced February 2008
- Older Model is Olympus E-1
- Successor is Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
- 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 4096 x 2160 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
- Revealed February 2020
- Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III Overview
In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and both are created by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-M1 III (20MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

The E-3 was launched 13 years before the E-M1 III and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-3 scores versus the E-M1 III with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-3 & Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Olympus E-M1 III Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-M1 III
E-3 | E-M1 III |
---|
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Olympus E-3
E-M1 III | E-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | February 2020 | ![]() | February 2008 | More recent by 145 months |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+807k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M1 III
E-3 | E-M1 III | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More accurate focusing | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Both are selfie friendly |
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III Physical Comparison
If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 provides exterior dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 III has sizing of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).
Check out the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-3 versus the E-M1 III.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and E-M1 III is 56 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III Sensor Comparison
Typically, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The graphic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and E-M1 III.
All in all, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus E-M1 III to give more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

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


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M1 III Specifications
Olympus E-3 | Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Olympus |
Model type | Olympus E-3 | Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Pro Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2008-02-20 | 2020-02-11 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic III | TruePic IX |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | Four Thirds |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.4 x 13mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 226.2mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 20 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 |
Maximum resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 5184 x 3888 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW support | ||
Min boosted ISO | - | 64 |
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 121 |
Cross type focus points | - | 121 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Available lenses | 45 | 107 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
Display size | 2.5 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 1,037k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,360k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | 0.74x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 60s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/8000s |
Maximum quiet shutter speed | - | 1/32000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 5.0 frames per second | 60.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 1/250s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
Maximum video resolution | None | 4096x2160 |
Video data format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 890 grams (1.96 lb) | 580 grams (1.28 lb) |
Dimensions | 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") |
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 | ||
Battery life | - | 420 pictures |
Battery format | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | BLH-1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) |
Storage slots | 1 | 2 |
Retail cost | $670 | $1,800 |