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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and A850 (25MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and A850 (Full frame) have totally different sensor size.

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The E-3 was announced 3 years prior to the A850 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-3 scores against the A850 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony A850

 E-3 A850 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus E-3

 A850 E-3 
RevealedApril 2010February 2008More modern by 26 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony A850

 E-3 A850 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 offers outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Sony A850 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 compared to the A850.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and A850 is 56 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The picture below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and A850.

All in all, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A850 will result in more detail with its extra 15 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Sony A850
57
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
72
focusing manually
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A850 as a Street photography camera
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Sony A850 Sports photography advice
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
55
environment proof
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Sony A850
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Sony A850 Vlogging factors
18
no video recording
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony A850
 Olympus E-3Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-02-20 2010-04-15
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 895 gr (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.2
DXO Low light score 571 1415
Other
Battery life - 880 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Single 2
Price at release $670 $0