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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are created by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was unveiled 9 years earlier than the E-PL8 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-3 grades vs the E-PL8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-3 E-PL8 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-3

 E-PL8 E-3 
LaunchedSeptember 2016February 2008More recent by 104 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-3 E-PL8 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 provides outside measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL8 has dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-3 versus the E-PL8.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and E-PL8 is 56 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and E-PL8.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL8 to resolve extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
69
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proof
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
55
weather proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
71
boasts focus by touch
resolution is good (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography factors
56
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
megapixel count low (10MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging advice
18
no video recording
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus E-3Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-02-20 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 data
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type 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 per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 357g (0.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 350 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $670 $500