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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched February 2013
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) feature different sensor size.

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The E-3 was introduced 6 years earlier than the RX1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-3 matches up against the RX1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony RX1

 E-3 RX1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-3

 RX1 E-3 
LaunchedFebruary 2013February 2008More modern by 60 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony RX1

 E-3 RX1 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 comes with exterior measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1 has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-3 versus the RX1.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and RX1 is 56 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The image below will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and RX1.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony RX1 will render extra detail using its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1 Portrait photography information
56
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution (10MP)
82
manual focus
high flash sync (1/4,000s)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Sony RX1 Street photography details
69
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Sports photography camera
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
53
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography details
Sony RX1 Travel photography details
55
weather proof
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
62
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX1 Landscape photography advice
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
small screen (2.5 inch)
low resolution (10MP)
no Time Lapse function
65
manual focus
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Sony RX1
18
can't record video
34
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
includes face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony RX1
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-02-20 2013-02-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 482g (1.06 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 93
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 14.3
DXO Low light rating 571 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $670 $2,798