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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Launched April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-3 versus Sony HX1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the HX1 (9MP) is very close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was manufactured 14 months earlier than the HX1 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-3 scores against the HX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony HX1

 E-3 HX1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-3

 HX1 E-3 
LaunchedApril 2009February 2008More recent by 14 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony HX1

 E-3 HX1 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 has external measurements 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 HX1 has dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Sony HX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-3 compared to the HX1.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and HX1 is 56 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and HX1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-3 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-3 will render extra detail due to its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Sony HX1 Street photography highlights
69
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competitors (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography information
Sony HX1 Sports photography information
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
36
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
48
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (544g)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
39
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Sony HX1
18
lack of video recording
22
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic socket
heavier than competitors (544 grams)
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony HX1
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-02-20 2009-04-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 9MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 9.20 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1440x1080
Video format - H.264
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $670 $47,999