Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P2
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48


86 Imaging
47 Features
42 Overall
45
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- Superseded the Olympus E-P1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

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).

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.

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


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

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 |