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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Replaced the Sony RX10
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 III
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-3 versus Sony RX10 II, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and RX10 II (20MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and RX10 II (1") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was unveiled 8 years prior to the RX10 II and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX10 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-3 scores against the RX10 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony RX10 II

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

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Olympus E-3

 RX10 II E-3 
AnnouncedJune 2015February 2008Fresher by 88 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony RX10 II

 E-3 RX10 II 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 comes with outer 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 RX10 II has specifications of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Sony RX10 II in the latest Camera with 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 working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 and the RX10 II.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and RX10 II is 56 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and RX10 II.

As you can see, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-3 having a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX10 II will resolve greater detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Street photography camera
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
72
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Sony RX10 II Sports photography advice
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
68
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography info
Sony RX10 II Travel photography info
55
environment sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
56
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Sony RX10 II Landscape photography details
56
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
62
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Sony RX10 II Vlogging information
18
no video
31
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external mic support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony RX10 II
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-02-20 2015-06-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 14.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 10.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 813g (1.79 lbs)
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 rating 56 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 12.6
DXO Low light rating 571 531
Other
Battery life - 400 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $670 $998