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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is relatively close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was brought out 3 years prior to the HX5 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-3 scores against the HX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony HX5

 E-3 HX5 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus E-3

 HX5 E-3 
ReleasedJune 2010February 2008More recent by 28 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony HX5

 E-3 HX5 
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 enjoys physical 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) and the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-3 compared to the HX5.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and HX5 is 56 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The visual below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and HX5.

All in all, both of these cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-3 includes the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX5 Portrait photography advice
57
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution (10 megapixels)
19
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Sony HX5
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography features
Sony HX5 Sports photography features
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
26
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Sony HX5 Travel photography features
55
weather proof
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
60
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX5 Landscape photography highlights
56
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
37
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Sony HX5 Vlogging advice
18
lack of video recording
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony HX5
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-02-20 2010-06-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $670 $275