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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Succeeded the Sony A9
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-3 versus Sony A9 II, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and A9 II (Full frame) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was revealed 12 years before the A9 II and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-3 matches up versus the A9 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony A9 II

 E-3 A9 II 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Olympus E-3

 A9 II E-3 
IntroducedOctober 2019February 2008More recent by 141 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1440k230kClearer display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony A9 II

 E-3 A9 II 
Manually focus More exact focus

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 features outer measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Sony A9 II has specifications of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 versus Sony A9 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-3 and the A9 II.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and A9 II is 56 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and A9 II.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-3 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A9 II will result in greater detail because of its extra 14MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
Sony A9 II Portrait photography details
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
85
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Street photography camera
69
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
environment sealing
good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Sports photography camera
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
87
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery (690 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography advice
Sony A9 II Travel photography advice
55
weather proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
73
great battery (690 shots)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
provides focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony A9 II Landscape photography advice
56
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
small screen (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
86
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery (690 per charge)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Sony A9 II Vlogging factors
18
can't record video
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony A9 II
 Olympus E-3Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Category Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-02-20 2019-10-03
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 693
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 678 gr (1.49 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery life - 690 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots 1 Dual
Cost at launch $670 $4,498