Olympus E-3 vs Olympus 8000

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus 8000, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the 8000 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and 8000 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was launched 16 months earlier than the 8000 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus 8000 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-3 matches up against the 8000 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-3 & Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Olympus 8000 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 has got outside 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 8000 has sizing of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus 8000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-3 compared to the 8000.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and 8000 is 56 and 94 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The image here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and 8000.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus 8000 will render more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind in sensor innovation.