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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II 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
  • Launched February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 III
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M5 II, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both built by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-M5 II (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was unveiled 8 years before the E-M5 II which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-3 grades vs the E-M5 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 E-3 E-M5 II 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus E-3

 E-M5 II E-3 
LaunchedFebruary 2015February 2008Newer by 84 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M5 II

 E-3 E-M5 II 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has got outside measurements 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-M5 II has dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M5 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 and the E-M5 II.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and E-M5 II is 56 and 80 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by going through specifications. The image underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and E-M5 II.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M5 II to produce extra detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II sensor size comparison

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

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
69
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
82
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography highlights
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
terrible battery power (310 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
55
environment sealing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
74
weather sealing
features focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (310 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography features
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
terrible battery power (310 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
18
can't shoot video
82
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-M5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-M5 II
 Olympus E-3Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2008-02-20 2015-02-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS MOS
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
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 469 gr (1.03 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 571 896
Other
Battery life - 310 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $670 $699