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Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sigma SD1
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Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD1 Merrill, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Olympus and Sigma. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was revealed 5 years before the SD1 Merrill and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-3 grades vs the SD1 Merrill with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 E-3 SD1 Merrill 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Olympus E-3

 SD1 Merrill E-3 
ReleasedApril 2012February 2008More recent by 50 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 E-3 SD1 Merrill 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 enjoys physical measurements 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 Sigma SD1 Merrill has measurements of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD1 Merrill in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-3 and the SD1 Merrill.

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and SD1 Merrill is 56 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The visual below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and SD1 Merrill.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-3 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will result in greater detail because of its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
57
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
65
manual focus
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography features
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography factors
58
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
61
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography info
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography info
55
weather proofing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
54
environment proofing
megapixel count good (15MP)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography details
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
small screen (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
63
manual focus
switch lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Sigma SD1 Merrill Vlogging factors
18
no video recording
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Olympus E-3Sigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Olympus Sigma
Model type Olympus E-3 Sigma SD1 Merrill
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-02-20 2012-04-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Dual True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4800 x 3200
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sigma SA
Total lenses 45 76
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s -
Max shutter speed 1/8000s -
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 790 gr (1.74 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Storage slots One One
Price at release $670 $2,339