Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q7

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax Q7, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and Q7 (1/1.7") feature different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was announced 6 years earlier than the Q7 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-3 grades against the Q7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-3 & Pentax Q7. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Pentax Q7 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 features 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) whilst the Pentax Q7 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax Q7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-3 and the Q7.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and Q7 is 56 and 92 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions only by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and Q7.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Pentax Q7 will give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.