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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Revealed January 2014
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and SP-100 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and SP-100 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was launched 7 years earlier than the SP-100 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-3 grades versus the SP-100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus SP-100

 E-3 SP-100 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Olympus E-3

 SP-100 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2014February 2008More modern by 72 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-100

 E-3 SP-100 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 enjoys outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-100 has specifications of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") having a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 and the SP-100.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and SP-100 is 56 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and SP-100.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus SP-100 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SP-100 as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
44
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SP-100 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
environment proofing
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than others in class (594 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Olympus SP-100 Sports photography factors
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
53
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Olympus SP-100
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (594 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Olympus SP-100
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
low MP (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging details
Olympus SP-100 Vlogging details
18
no video shooting
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic support
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than others in class (594g)
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus SP-100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus SP-100
 Olympus E-3Olympus Stylus SP-100
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus Stylus SP-100
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-02-20 2014-01-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
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 - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.9-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 920 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 594 grams (1.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 330 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $670 $400