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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was launched 3 years before the XZ-1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-3 matches up against the XZ-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus XZ-1

 E-3 XZ-1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus E-3

 XZ-1 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2008Fresher by 35 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution614k230kCrisper screen (+384k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus XZ-1

 E-3 XZ-1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 provides outside 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 XZ-1 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-3 compared to the XZ-1.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and XZ-1 is 56 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and XZ-1.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-3 has got the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh easier. The older E-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography advice
57
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
45
has manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography highlights
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
heavier than competition in class (275g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Sports photography camera
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (320 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography features
55
environment proof
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
62
better than average battery pack (320 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (275g)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography info
56
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen is small (2.5 inches)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (320 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Olympus XZ-1
18
no video shooting
31
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
heavier than competition in class (275g)
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus E-3Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus XZ-1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-02-20 2011-01-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3664 x 2752
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 275g (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 34
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 18.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 10.4
DXO Low light score 571 117
Other
Battery life - 320 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $670 $567