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Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 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
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-3 versus Sony S950, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the S950 (10MP) is very comparable but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and S950 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was unveiled 12 months prior to the S950 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-3 grades vs the S950 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony S950

 E-3 S950 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus E-3

 S950 E-3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2009February 2008More modern by 12 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony S950

 E-3 S950 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 features external dimensions 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 S950 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 versus Sony S950 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-3 against the S950.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and S950 is 56 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The picture underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and S950.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor sizes. The E-3 has the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Sony S950
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
26
you can focus manually
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony S950 as a Street photography camera
69
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Sony S950 Sports photography advice
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
24
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S950 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proofing
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
50
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Sony S950 Landscape photography details
56
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
31
you can focus manually
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging details
Sony S950 Vlogging details
18
no video recording
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony S950
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-02-20 2009-02-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Video file format - Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $670 $130