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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 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
  • Released February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Launched December 2007
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 7D
  • Later Model is Sony A77
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-3 versus Sony A700, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the A700 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and A700 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was announced 3 months after the A700 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-3 scores vs the A700 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony A700

 E-3 A700 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Olympus E-3

 A700 E-3 
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony A700

 E-3 A700 
LaunchedFebruary 2008December 2007Same age
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 provides physical measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Sony A700 has proportions of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") having a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 versus Sony A700 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 vs the A700.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and A700 is 56 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The picture below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and A700.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A700 will result in greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography features
Sony A700 Portrait photography features
57
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
54
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Sony A700
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Sony A700
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (10MP)
56
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A700 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment sealing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
49
weather proof
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A700 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low MP (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
62
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
no liveview
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Sony A700 Vlogging information
18
no video shooting
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony A700
 Olympus E-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-02-20 2007-12-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.6x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic 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 lbs) 768 grams (1.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 11.9
DXO Low light score 571 581
Other
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One Dual
Cost at launch $670 $1,000