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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was released 11 years before the E-PL9 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-3 scores versus the E-PL9 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-3 E-PL9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-3

 E-PL9 E-3 
ReleasedFebruary 2018February 2008Newer by 121 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-3 E-PL9 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has got outer 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) while the Olympus E-PL9 has dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-3 versus the E-PL9.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and E-PL9 is 56 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The pic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and E-PL9.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus E-PL9 to resolve more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography factors
56
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL9 Street photography advice
69
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
77
has bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
56
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging factors
18
can't record video
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-3Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-02-20 2018-02-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic VIII
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 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 8.6 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 380 grams (0.84 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 350 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $670 $599