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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS 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
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Launched December 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is very comparable but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was announced 5 years earlier than the XZ-2 iHS and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-3 matches up versus the XZ-2 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-3 XZ-2 iHS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus E-3

 XZ-2 iHS E-3 
LaunchedDecember 2012February 2008Fresher by 58 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-3 XZ-2 iHS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 has exterior measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-3 and the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and XZ-2 iHS is 56 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The photograph here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and XZ-2 iHS.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-3 having a larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will produce more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography details
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
46
you can focus manually
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
69
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
66
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography factors
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (340 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography highlights
55
environment proofing
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
61
good battery power (340 shots)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
small screen (2.5")
low megapixels (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging information
18
lack of video recording
36
rather wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (346g)
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus E-3Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-02-20 2012-12-18
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 346 grams (0.76 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 11.3
DXO Low light rating 571 216
Other
Battery life - 340 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $670 $450