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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP 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
  • Released February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Other Name is mju 550WP
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the 550WP (10MP) is very comparable but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and 550WP (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was announced 10 months prior to the 550WP and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-3 matches up vs the 550WP with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus 550WP

 E-3 550WP 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Olympus E-3

 550WP E-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2009February 2008Fresher by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus 550WP

 E-3 550WP 
Display dimensions2.5"2.5"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 has got physical dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Olympus 550WP has measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 versus the 550WP.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and 550WP is 56 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and 550WP.

As you can see, both cameras have the same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The E-3 features the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The older E-3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Olympus 550WP
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
19
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Olympus 550WP Street photography highlights
69
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography information
Olympus 550WP Sports photography information
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus 550WP as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
55
weather proof
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Olympus 550WP Landscape photography info
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual exposure
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Olympus 550WP Vlogging highlights
18
no video recording
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 550WP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus 550WP
 Olympus E-3Olympus Stylus 550WP
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Otherwise known as - mju 550WP
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-02-20 2009-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.0
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.5"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 890g (1.96 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $670 $399