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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-P5, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-P5 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was launched 6 years before the E-P5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-3 scores vs the E-P5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-P5

 E-3 E-P5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Olympus E-3

 E-P5 E-3 
ReleasedOctober 2013February 2008Fresher by 68 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-P5

 E-3 E-P5 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 provides outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Olympus E-P5 has proportions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-P5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-3 and the E-P5.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and E-P5 is 56 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The visual here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and E-P5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-P5 to render greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography details
57
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/320s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Olympus E-P5
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proof
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than competition in class (420g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-P5 as a Sports photography camera
58
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-P5 Travel photography advice
55
environment proof
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low resolution (10MP)
68
has focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than competition in class (420 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-P5 as a Landscape photography camera
56
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Olympus E-P5 Vlogging information
18
no video
33
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (420 grams)
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-P5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-P5
 Olympus E-3Olympus PEN E-P5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus PEN E-P5
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-02-20 2013-10-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.00 m (ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264
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 grams (1.96 lb) 420 grams (0.93 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 571 895
Other
Battery life - 330 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
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 1 1
Pricing at launch $670 $389