Olympus E-3 vs Olympus PEN-F

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-3 and Olympus PEN-F, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and PEN-F (20MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was revealed 9 years earlier than the PEN-F which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-3 matches up against the PEN-F in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-3 and Olympus PEN-F. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-3 Gallery and Olympus PEN-F Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 comes with exterior measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus PEN-F has dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-3 and Olympus PEN-F in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-3 against the PEN-F.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and PEN-F is 56 and 84 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and PEN-F.

Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus PEN-F to offer greater detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.