Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48
86 Imaging
46 Features
42 Overall
44
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 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
- Launched February 2008
- Previous Model is Olympus E-1
- Newer Model is Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
- Revealed April 2010
- Superseded the Olympus E-P1
- Updated by Olympus E-P3
Photography Glossary Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Overview
Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E-P2 (12MP) is fairly close and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe E-3 was announced 3 years before the E-P2 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-3 matches up versus the E-P2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-3 & Olympus PEN E-P2. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Olympus E-P2 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-P2
| E-3 | E-P2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating display | |
| Selfie screen | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-3
| E-P2 | E-3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | April 2010 | February 2008 | Newer by 26 months | |
| Display size | 3" | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-P2
| E-3 | E-P2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | Very accurate focus | |||
| Display resolution | 230k | 230k | Exact same display resolution | |
| Touch friendly display | Missing Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to travel with your camera, you have to consider 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-P2 has dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 compared to the E-P2.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and E-P2 is 56 and 86 respectively.
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and E-P2.
All in all, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-P2 to provide you with more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and ViewFinder
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banStreet Comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsSports Comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneTravel Comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoLandscape Comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthVlogging Comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Specifications
| Olympus E-3 | Olympus PEN E-P2 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Olympus | Olympus |
| Model | Olympus E-3 | Olympus PEN E-P2 |
| Class | Advanced DSLR | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Launched | 2008-02-20 | 2010-04-22 |
| Body design | Mid-size SLR | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | TruePic III | TruePic V |
| 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 | 10 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 |
| Maximum resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
| Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW support | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| AF touch | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| AF single | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Number of focus points | 11 | 11 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Number of lenses | 45 | 107 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
| Display diagonal | 2.5" | 3" |
| Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch operation | ||
| Display tech | - | HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic (optional) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | - |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 60s |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous shooting speed | 5.0 frames/s | 3.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom 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, Manual (3 levels) |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Highest flash sync | 1/250s | 1/180s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
| Video data format | - | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| 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 seal | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 890 gr (1.96 pounds) | 355 gr (0.78 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | 56 | 56 |
| DXO Color Depth score | 21.6 | 21.5 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 10.5 | 10.4 |
| DXO Low light score | 571 | 505 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 300 images |
| Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | BLS-1 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Storage media | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC card |
| Storage slots | Single | Single |
| Price at launch | $670 | $799 |