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Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Released September 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-3 versus Sony QX1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Lens-style by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and QX1 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was unveiled 7 years before the QX1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-3 matches up versus the QX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony QX1

 E-3 QX1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension2.5""Larger display (+2.5")
Display resolution230k0kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus E-3

 QX1 E-3 
ReleasedSeptember 2014February 2008Newer by 79 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony QX1

 E-3 QX1 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 features outer 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 Sony QX1 has dimensions of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") and a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Sony QX1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-3 and the QX1.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and QX1 is 56 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching specs. The picture below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and QX1.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony QX1 will render more detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography features
Sony QX1 Portrait photography features
57
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
66
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Sony QX1 Street photography info
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
69
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (216 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Sports photography camera
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
56
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (440 shots)
low fps (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Sony QX1
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
71
better than average battery pack (440 shots)
comes with focus by touch
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (216 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
screen is small (2.5")
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
64
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (440 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX1 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't shoot video
32
has touchscreen
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have microphone support
more heavy than average in class (216 grams)
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony QX1
 Olympus E-3Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-3 Sony Alpha QX1
Category Advanced DSLR Lens-style
Introduced 2008-02-20 2014-09-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 1.6
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch -
Display resolution 230k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 890g (1.96 lbs) 216g (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
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
Battery life - 440 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $670 $500