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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic S3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and S3 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was introduced 3 years before the S3 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-3 scores vs the S3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic S3

 E-3 S3 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-3

 S3 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2008More modern by 35 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic S3

 E-3 S3 
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 provides outer measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Panasonic S3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-3 versus the S3.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and S3 is 56 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and S3.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic S3 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Panasonic S3 Street photography details
69
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography details
Panasonic S3 Travel photography details
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
68
lighter than competition in class (117g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography factors
56
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
no Timelapse function
38
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
18
no video shooting
31
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-02-20 2011-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 pounds) 117 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $670 $110