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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Announced June 2013
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus SZ-15, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the SZ-15 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-3 grades against the SZ-15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-3 SZ-15 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-3

 SZ-15 E-3 
AnnouncedJune 2013February 2008More modern by 64 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SZ-15

 E-3 SZ-15 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 offers outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-15 has measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus SZ-15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-3 and the SZ-15.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and SZ-15 is 56 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and SZ-15.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus SZ-15 will give greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
69
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography info
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (10MP)
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
55
environment proof
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (10MP)
68
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
56
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
low MP (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
49
has manual focus
pretty wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging factors
18
no video shooting
34
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus E-3Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus SZ-15
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-02-20 2013-06-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 250g (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
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 ID - SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $670 $200