Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic XS1

Following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic XS1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was announced 5 years prior to the XS1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-3 grades vs the XS1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Panasonic XS1 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 enjoys external dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic XS1 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") having a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic XS1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-3 against the XS1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and XS1 is 56 and 97 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and XS1.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic XS1 will resolve extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.