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Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sigma SD15 front
Portability
59
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 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
  • Launched February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Sigma SD15
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 750g - 144 x 107 x 81mm
  • Released February 2010
  • Old Model is Sigma SD14
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Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD15, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sigma. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and SD15 (5MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and SD15 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was manufactured 24 months before the SD15 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-3 grades against the SD15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sigma SD15

 E-3 SD15 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sigma SD15 over the Olympus E-3

 SD15 E-3 
ReleasedFebruary 2010February 2008More modern by 24 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD15

 E-3 SD15 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 enjoys outside 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 Sigma SD15 has dimensions of 144mm x 107mm x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-3 vs the SD15.

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and SD15 is 56 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by checking technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and SD15.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-3 will resolve more detail due to its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography factors
Sigma SD15 Portrait photography factors
57
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
50
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
MP count low (5MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Sigma SD15 Street photography info
70
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proof
52
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Sigma SD15 Sports photography highlights
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography highlights
Sigma SD15 Travel photography highlights
55
environment proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
42
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (5MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma SD15 as a Landscape photography camera
56
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
51
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Sigma SD15 Vlogging highlights
18
can't record video
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-3 vs Sigma SD15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sigma SD15
 Olympus E-3Sigma SD15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sigma
Model Olympus E-3 Sigma SD15
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-02-20 2010-02-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 20.7 x 13.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 285.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 5 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 2640 x 1760
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sigma SA
Available lenses 45 76
Crop factor 2.1 1.7
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.6x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
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 grams (1.96 lb) 750 grams (1.65 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 144 x 107 x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $670 $1,500