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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
76
Overall
61

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 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
  • Released February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Sony RX10
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 II
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 Overview

Here is a thorough review of the Olympus E-3 and Sony RX10, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and RX10 (20MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and RX10 (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was unveiled 7 years prior to the RX10 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-3 matches up vs the RX10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony RX10

 E-3 RX10 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 over the Olympus E-3

 RX10 E-3 
LaunchedMarch 2014February 2008Fresher by 74 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1290k230kCrisper display (+1060k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony RX10

 E-3 RX10 
Manually focus More precise focus
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 comes with physical measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 has dimensions of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 and Sony RX10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-3 vs the RX10.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and RX10 is 56 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specifications. The visual below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and RX10.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-3 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony RX10 will resolve greater detail having an extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Sony RX10
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
70
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Sony RX10 Street photography info
69
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
72
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
environment proof
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Sony RX10
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
environment proof
good battery power (420 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
58
good battery power (420 per charge)
environment proof
megapixel count good (20MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX10 Landscape photography highlights
56
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
63
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
environment proof
good battery power (420 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Sony RX10 Vlogging advice
18
can't record video
30
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony RX10
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-02-20 2014-03-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,290k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - WhiteMagic
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 10.20 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 lb) 813g (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 69
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.6
DXO Low light score 571 474
Other
Battery life - 420 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $670 $698