Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S5

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S5, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was brought out 13 years prior to the S5 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-3 scores against the S5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-3 & Panasonic Lumix DC-S5. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Panasonic S5 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has exterior 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 Panasonic S5 has dimensions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-3 versus the S5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and S5 is 56 and 60 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specifications. The photograph underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and S5.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-3 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic S5 will give you extra detail having its extra 14MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.