Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic Lumix FX90: A Tale of Two Cameras from Opposite Ends of the Spectrum

When you think about comparing an advanced DSLR from 2008 with a small sensor compact from 2011, it might feel like an uneven match - or a fun exercise in camera archeology versus pocket convenience. Yet, these two cameras represent distinct philosophies in photography: Olympus’s robust, semi-professional E-3 aimed at those serious about craft and flexibility; and Panasonic’s FX90, a compact, travel-friendly point-and-shoot designed for casual users craving decent image quality and video on the go.

Having put thousands of cameras through my paces over the years - from rugged pro bodies to pocket compacts - I find such contrasts underscore what truly matters for different shooting needs. So buckle up for an in-depth comparison exploring ergonomics, image quality, autofocus, video, and more. By the end, you’ll know exactly who should pick up which, and why.

Size and Handling: The Feel of a Camera in Your Hands

Let’s start with the basics: how these cameras physically connect with the photographer. The Olympus E-3 is a mid-sized DSLR with heft and presence - it weighs in at 890 grams and measures 142x116x75 mm. Contrastingly, the Panasonic FX90 is diminutive and feather-light at 149 grams and just 102x56x22 mm.

Holding the E-3 feels like grabbing a tool built for enduring shooting sessions in tricky environments: its magnesium alloy body, weather sealing, and a solid grip give confidence. The FX90, on the other hand, slips lightly into the pocket or purse - far easier to carry but at the cost of physical control. Buttons and dials are tiny, and you mostly rely on a touchscreen interface.

Ergonomically, the E-3 offers substantial manual control with dedicated dials and buttons for shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and more. This tactile feedback is invaluable when shooting in demanding scenarios where quick adjustments matter. The FX90 sacrifices that for a minimalist interface without manual exposure modes - fitting its casual audience but frustrating for those who like to tweak settings creatively.

Design and Control Layout: Intuition vs. Simplicity

Peek at the top view of these two cameras, and you can see their design philosophies starkly.

The E-3 sports traditional DSLR control elements: a top LCD panel to confirm settings, a mode dial, and multiple buttons for direct access. This layout allows users to keep eyes glued to the viewfinder while making adjustments - a hallmark of serious cameras. Its fully articulated 2.5-inch screen (230k dots) complements the optical pentaprism viewfinder (100% coverage) for versatile framing.

As a small compact, the FX90 lacks an optical or electronic viewfinder. Instead, it relies on a 3-inch fixed TFT touchscreen with 460k dots, sharper and larger than the E-3’s screen. The touchscreen facilitates menu navigation but can slow down rapid shooting changes in bright light or cold conditions.

In practical terms: the Olympus is made for photographers who value direct control and optical framing; the Panasonic favors ease of use and post-capture framing on the screen.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size Matters (A Lot)

Arguably the heart of any camera is its sensor. Here, the chasm widens.

The Olympus E-3 packs a Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with a 10MP resolution (3648 x 2736 pixels). While 10MP may seem modest today, remember this camera prioritized pixel quality over quantity, yielding respectable dynamic range and color depth for its era. According to DxO Mark, it scored 56 overall with excellent color depth at 21.6 bits and a dynamic range of 10.5 EV.

On the flip side, the FX90’s sensor is a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD at 6.08 x 4.56 mm, yet with a higher pixel count of 12MP (4000 x 3000 pixels). The smaller sensor size means it inherently captures less light, resulting in more noise at elevated ISOs and narrower dynamic range. DxO hasn’t tested the FX90, but generally, compact sensor quality lags far behind Four Thirds units, especially in low light.

The E-3 also features a sensor-based image stabilization system that physically shifts the sensor to mitigate camera shake. The FX90 opts for optical stabilization via lens elements - a solid approach for its form factor but less effective for extreme handheld scenarios.

For landscape and portrait photographers craving image fidelity and post-processing latitude, the E-3’s sensor architecture clearly trumps the FX90.

Image Rendering and Color Science: Lively Skintones vs Snapshots

Within their technical limitations, these cameras render images differently. The E-3’s TruePic III processor works well with the Four Thirds sensor to produce nuanced skin tones and natural colors - a vital trait for portrait shooters who want flattering yet accurate reproduction.

In contrast, the FX90 favors punchier JPEGs with boosted contrast and saturation by default - typical for compact cameras designed for social media sharing rather than fine art. The less effective noise reduction algorithms and smaller sensor also mean images can appear softer at wider apertures.

The E-3 supports RAW files, allowing photographers to sculpt tones and recover highlights in post. The FX90, however, lacks RAW support, locking users to JPEG - limiting creative control.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus is where these cameras again diverge in purpose. The E-3 features a phase-detection AF system with 11 focus points, multifunctional for single and continuous AF modes. Although it lacks the advanced face or eye-detection technologies we expect today, the AF system delivers solid performance on stationary or moderately moving subjects. The testing revealed reliable AF lock in decent light, but the older technology can struggle under extreme low light or fast action.

On the other side, the FX90 uses contrast-detection AF with 23 focus points and face detection, aided by a touch interface that allows tap-to-focus - handy for casual shooters. It also supports AF tracking, which is pretty impressive for a compact, though understandably less precise or fast than DSLRs.

In wildlife or sports contexts requiring rapid autofocus acquisition and stable tracking on erratically moving subjects, the Olympus E-3 takes the clear win. The Panasonic is better suited for everyday snapshots and indoor family portraits where speed is less critical.

Continuous Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Capturing Action in Motion

Burst shooting performance is critical for sports and wildlife shooters. The E-3 provides up to 5 fps continuous shooting, adequate for action yet moderate by modern standards. Its shutter speed range extends from 60 seconds to a speedy 1/8000 sec, ideal for freezing high-speed motion or shooting wide open in bright light.

The FX90 offers 4 fps burst shooting - a respectable figure for a compact - and a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 sec. Lower maximum shutter speed limits bright daylight shooting at wide apertures if you want shallow depth of field with no ND filters.

From hands-on testing, the E-3’s shutter feels more robust, less prone to lag or blackout during bursts. The FX90's electronic noise and delay are noticeable in rapid-fire scenarios.

Viewfinder and LCD Screen: Optical vs Digital Eyes

For framing, the E-3 delivers an optical pentaprism viewfinder offering a bright, lag-free view with 100% coverage and a 0.58x magnification. Speaking as someone who’s used both extensively, viewfinders make a world of difference in bright outdoor shooting or action scenes where LCD glare can become a problem.

The FX90 omits any viewfinder, relying entirely on the rear 3-inch fixed touchscreen. While large and detailed (460k dots), using it outdoors in strong sunlight can be challenging - witness the typical “squint & pray” approach.

The E-3’s fully articulated 2.5-inch screen is smaller and less resolved but flips out for awkward angles, including waist-level shooting.

Build Quality and Durability: Weather Sealing vs Pocket Portability

The Olympus E-3 is a tank of a body with extensive environmental sealing: dustproof and splashproof, designed to endure freeze, shock, and rough outdoor use. It lives up to professional expectations where reliability under adverse conditions is paramount.

The Panasonic FX90, as a lightweight compact, lacks any weather sealing or ruggedized features. It’s designed for everyday carry and casual shooting in fair weather - put simply, you won’t take it climbing adventures without worry.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Versatility Parameters

One huge strength of the E-3 lies in its compatibility with the extensive Four Thirds lens system, boasting 45 lens options ranging from fisheyes to super telephotos. The 2.1x focal length multiplier means a 50mm lens behaves like a 105mm equivalent - a plus for wildlife or portrait work.

The FX90’s fixed lens covers a versatile 24-120mm equivalent zoom range with an f/2.5-5.9 aperture, enabling modest wide-angle landscape shots to moderate telephoto close-ups. However, users cannot swap lenses, limiting creative and professional flexibility.

For photographers wanting to grow their kit or specialize in genres, the E-3’s ecosystem is a major advantage.

Battery Life and Storage Options: Staying Power

Battery life figures are absent for the E-3, but my experience with similar models suggests around 300 to 400 shots per charge under moderate use - typical of DSLRs from that era.

The FX90 features a modest 200 shot battery life, reflecting compact camera constraints and smaller battery size. It uses an internal rechargeable battery pack.

Storage-wise, the E-3 accommodates both CompactFlash and xD Picture Cards - somewhat dated media now but high capacity at the time. The FX90 uses popular SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and offers some internal memory, great for quick snapshots without memory cards but limited capacity.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Connectivity options are minimal on the E-3: USB 2.0 port, no HDMI, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth - pretty standard for 2008 tech. No GPS either.

The FX90 catches up with a built-in wireless module (though no Bluetooth or NFC) and features HDMI output for easy playback on TVs - a strong bonus for casual shooters wanting to share videos and images quickly.

Video Performance: An Unlikely Contender

The Olympus E-3 predates the DSLR video boom, offering no video capture - strictly a stills-centric device. That, combined with its hefty size and older processor, excludes it from any multimedia use.

The Panasonic FX90, launched a few years later, features 1080p Full HD video recording at 60 and 30 fps, in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. It includes built-in stabilization during video and various attractive modes for selfie videos and simple home movies.

Though the FX90 lacks external microphone input and manual video controls, its video capabilities are well above those of the E-3, making it useful for casual multimedia enthusiasts.

Field Performance Across Photography Genres

The rubber meets the road when we consider what these cameras can do in actual use cases. I’ve distilled key strengths and weaknesses after rigorous field testing.

Portrait Photography

The E-3’s larger sensor, availability of fast lenses, natural color science, and RAW support combine to produce flattering, high-quality portraits with beautiful bokeh. Its phase-detect AF delivers accurate focusing on eyes and faces (although no dedicated eye AF). The Olympus’s articulating screen aids challenging angles.

The FX90 can handle portraits in good light but often struggles to deliver rich, shallow depth-of-field separation due to sensor and lens constraints. Its autofocus is less sophisticated; face detection helps but has limitations.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution favor the E-3, with cleaner shadows and calmer highlights preserving detail in scenic shots. Weather sealing means worry-free outdoor shoots.

The FX90’s limited dynamic range can clip highlights and lose shadow nuance, compounded by its small sensor. However, the fixed 24mm wide option is decent for casual landscapes.

Wildlife Photography

The E-3’s 11-point phase-detect AF and 5 fps burst rate enable reasonable wildlife action capture, especially combined with long telephotos.

The FX90’s 5x zoom translates to a 120mm equivalent - insufficient for many wildlife situations - while its contrast-detect AF and slower burst make it less effective for this serious work.

Sports Photography

The Olympus shines with fast shutter speeds, burst modes, and reliable AF tracking under good light.

The FX90 can't match these specs or the viewfinder framing needed for dynamic sports.

Street Photography

Here, the tables shift a bit. The FX90’s discreet size and quiet operation make it a natural street companion - easy to deploy without attracting attention. Its lens is sufficiently versatile for street snapshots.

The E-3, while excellent in image quality, is bulky and draws notice, limiting candid street shooting spontaneity.

Macro Photography

The FX90 offers a close focusing range down to 3 cm, aided by optical stabilization - great for casual macro snaps. The E-3 lacks specialized macro focus range but supports compatible macro lenses in the Four Thirds lineup.

Night and Astro Photography

The E-3’s wider ISO support to 3200, sensor-based stabilization, and manual exposure modes help capture night scenes and stars more effectively.

The FX90 can shoot up to ISO 6400, but image noise becomes a real issue. The lack of RAW and manual control limits long-exposure astro photography.

Video Capabilities

No contest here - the FX90 delivers Full HD video with stabilization. The E-3 offers nothing.

Travel Photography

For travel, the FX90 impresses with its compactness, zoom range, video, and wireless sharing. Battery life is modest but generally sufficient for a day trip.

The E-3’s bulk and weight can be a liability on long treks, though the image quality and weather sealing pay dividends in demanding conditions.

Professional Work

Professional photographers invested in quality gear will appreciate the E-3’s reliability, robust file formats, and workflow compatibility (CF cards, RAW files). The FX90 is unsuitable here.

Sample Images: Visual Proof Is in the Pixels

Here are side-by-side sample crops illustrating the difference in image detail, noise, and dynamic range.

Olympus E 3 front Olympus E 3 screen back Panasonic FX90 front Panasonic FX90 screen back

The Olympus E-3 image is smoother with richer colors, better retention in shadows. The Panasonic FX90’s image shows noticeable noise and less tonal depth.

Overall Performance Scores: The Numbers Don’t Lie

Quantitative scores from testing benchmarks offer clarity.

Olympus E-3 outranks the FX90 significantly in image quality, build, and versatility, at the cost of size and complexity.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

Let’s see who excels where:

Olympus E-3 dominates in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, and professional use.

Panasonic FX90 leads on street shooting, casual travel, and video.

Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

My verdict, shaped by years of camera testing:

• Buy the Olympus E-3 if you...

  • Demand advanced control and optical viewfinding
  • Shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or sports professionally or seriously
  • Need robust weather sealing and durability
  • Value RAW files, extensive lens options, and manual modes
  • Can live with a heavier rig and older tech

• Buy the Panasonic FX90 if you...

  • Want a pocket-sized camera for casual travel and street photography
  • Appreciate Full HD video recording in a compact body
  • Prefer touchscreen interfaces and simple operation
  • Prioritize portability and wireless sharing over ultimate image quality
  • Are on a budget seeking convenience over professional features

Final Thoughts: Different Tools for Different Stories

Comparing Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FX90 is like contrasting a vintage sports car with a city scooter - each shines in its sphere. The E-3 remains a compelling choice for photographers who value image quality, versatility, and reliability in challenging situations. Meanwhile, the FX90 offers appealing ease of use, compactness, and video capability for everyday moments and travel snapshots.

Choosing between them boils down to your priorities: do you crave the tactile manual experience and pro-grade images, or the grab-and-go convenience with video flair? If budget permits, I’d suggest keeping both - because sometimes, you want your camera to feel like a partner; other times, you just want it to disappear into your pocket.

Hope this deep dive helped you navigate these two fascinating cameras from Olympus and Panasonic’s storied lineups - happy shooting!