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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-P2
(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  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1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
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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).

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-3 E-P2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-3

 E-P2 E-3 
RevealedApril 2010February 2008Newer by 26 months
Display size3"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 resolution230k230kExact 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography info
57
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography advice
Olympus E-P2 Street photography advice
70
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-P2 Sports photography highlights
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-P2 Travel photography factors
55
weather sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
43
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography features
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-P2 Vlogging factors
18
no video shooting
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-P2
 Olympus E-3Olympus 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