Olympus E-3 vs Samsung HZ15W

Following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-3 and Samsung HZ15W, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the HZ15W (12MP) is very close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and HZ15W (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was revealed 12 months before the HZ15W so they are of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-3 scores against the HZ15W with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-3 & Samsung HZ15W. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Samsung HZ15W Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 provides outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Samsung HZ15W has measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-3 and Samsung HZ15W in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-3 versus the HZ15W.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and HZ15W is 56 and 90 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The image below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and HZ15W.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Samsung HZ15W will result in more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.