Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48


81 Imaging
52 Features
70 Overall
59
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed February 2008
- Succeeded the Olympus E-1
- Successor is Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
- Launched April 2012
- Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview
Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus E-M5, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are produced by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

The E-3 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the E-M5 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-3 scores vs the E-M5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-3 and Olympus OM-D E-M5. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-3 Gallery and Olympus E-M5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-M5
E-3 | E-M5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Tilting | Fully Articulating display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-3
E-M5 | E-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | April 2012 | ![]() | February 2008 | Newer by 51 months |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 610k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+380k dot) |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M5
E-3 | E-M5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing |
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 offers 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-M5 has dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).
Contrast the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus E-M5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-3 versus the E-M5.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and E-M5 is 56 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it's hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through a spec sheet. The picture here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and E-M5.
Clearly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M5 to give you greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications
Olympus E-3 | Olympus OM-D E-M5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Olympus |
Model | Olympus E-3 | Olympus OM-D E-M5 |
Class | Advanced DSLR | Advanced Mirrorless |
Revealed | 2008-02-20 | 2012-04-30 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | TruePic III | TruePic VI |
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 | 10MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW format | ||
Minimum boosted ISO | - | 100 |
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 35 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Total lenses | 45 | 107 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 2.5" | 3" |
Display resolution | 230 thousand dots | 610 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | - | Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,440 thousand dots |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | 0.58x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 60s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 5.0 frames per sec | 9.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 13.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/250s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | - | H.264, Motion JPEG |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 890g (1.96 lb) | 425g (0.94 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | 56 | 71 |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.6 | 22.8 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.5 | 12.3 |
DXO Low light score | 571 | 826 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 360 photos |
Form of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | BLN-1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $670 | $799 |