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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 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
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A350
  • Later Model is Sony A390
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and A380 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The E-3 was announced 18 months prior to the A380 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-3 grades versus the A380 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony A380

 E-3 A380 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Olympus E-3

 A380 E-3 
ReleasedAugust 2009February 2008Newer by 18 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony A380

 E-3 A380 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 features outer dimensions 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 Sony A380 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-3 versus the A380.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and A380 is 56 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and A380.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A380 will show greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony A380 Portrait photography advice
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Sony A380 Street photography details
69
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
76
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A380 as a Sports photography camera
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
59
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography info
Sony A380 Travel photography info
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
53
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony A380 Landscape photography advice
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
MP count low (10MP)
no Time Lapse mode
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
18
lack of video recording
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony A380
 Olympus E-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2008-02-20 2009-08-24
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 519g (1.14 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 67
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 11.8
DXO Low light rating 571 614
Other
Battery life - 500 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $670 $899