Olympus E-3 vs Sony TX100V: A Deep Dive Into Two Very Different Cameras

Choosing a camera can feel like walking into a candy store as a kid - so many shiny options calling your name from all angles. But when you’re hunting for serious photography gear, it’s not just about the flashiest features or the newest model; it’s about understanding how the camera performs in your hands, in the real world, across your favorite photography genres.

Today, we’re putting two very different cameras under the microscope: the Olympus E-3, a 2008 advanced DSLR powerhouse, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX100V, a 2011 ultracompact marvel. Although these two come from different eras and serve different user needs, comparing them head-to-head will highlight some key lessons on camera tech evolution, ergonomic preferences, and their suitability across various photography disciplines.

Take a seat and buckle up: I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing tech like this, and I’m excited to walk you through it all, from sensor tech to burst shooting, portraits to astrophotography, and everything in between.

Getting Physical: Size, Ergonomics & Handling

Let’s kick things off with what you'll literally feel first - the bodies of these cameras.

The Olympus E-3 feels like a rock-solid workhorse. At 890 grams and with dimensions roughly 142x116x75mm, it's undeniably chunky by today’s standards but typical for a pro-grade DSLR of its time. It's a mid-size SLR built to fit snugly into your hands with pronounced grips and clubs for your thumbs and fingers alike. There’s something comforting about that heft and solidity - it screams durability and confidence.

On the flip side, the Sony TX100V is downright tiny and featherweight, weighing just 147 grams and measuring 97x59x18mm. It slips effortlessly into any pocket, handbag, or even a coat pocket, enabling stealthy street photography or quick snaps on travel days without lugging a gym bag.

While the E-3’s size means more control dials and buttons for dedicated shooters, the TX100V’s tiny frame naturally limits physical controls - it’s touch-screen heavy, and the fixed lens means fewer fiddly settings to wrestle with.

Ergonomically, I found the E-3 rewarding to shoot with over long sessions, thanks to its logical control layout and substantial grip. The TX100V sacrifices tactile joy for compact convenience but offers a very bright, sharp 3.5-inch OLED screen (more on that shortly) for composing and reviewing shots.

Design & Top Controls: Clubs or Swipe?

If size impacts comfort, the design impacts speed and ease of use.

When I first handled the E-3, I appreciated the well-spaced buttons and a top LCD panel giving instant key info - aperture, shutter speed, and more - without digging into menus or the rear screen. Dials for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure let experienced shooters maintain full control like steering a tight ship in rough seas.

The TX100V, in contrast, opts for a svelte, minimalist top plate with few buttons. It relies on touchscreen navigation and fewer physical buttons - great for casual photographers but limiting if you crave granular exposure tweaking on the fly.

Having a top info panel is a helpful nod towards the professional workflow, something missing on the TX100V. You’ll want to lean on the touchscreen for features like white balance, ISO adjustment, and shooting modes here.

If you shoot fast-paced events or sports, the E-3's physical dials speed up operation versus the touchscreen taps on the Sony. But for street photogs or travelers who want quick snaps from a compact, the TX100V’s design will feel friendlier.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensors & Image Quality

Now to the guts - the sensor, arguably the soul of any camera.

The Olympus E-3 sports a Four Thirds CMOS sensor sized at 17.3x13mm, offering a 10-megapixel resolution (3648x2736 native). The sensor area, about 225 mm², is notably larger than the Sony TX100V’s tiny 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor at 6.17x4.55mm and a whopping 28 mm² area. That’s about 8 times more surface area for the Olympus sensor to capture light, which generally translates into better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

Despite having fewer megapixels, the E-3's pixel density is lower, giving it larger individual photosites that collect more light, reducing noise and increasing dynamic range. According to DxOMark scores, the Olympus achieves a color depth of 21.6 bits and dynamic range up to 10.5 EV, quite respectable for its era. Its low-light ISO capability peaks moderately at ISO 3200, but noise is well controlled up to about ISO 800.

The Sony TX100V impresses with a higher resolution of 16 megapixels (4608x3456) packed into a much smaller sensor. This inevitably leads to higher noise levels and reduced dynamic range in tricky lighting. Moreover, the smaller sensor struggles in low light despite the back-illuminated sensor design aimed at better sensitivity.

In practical terms, you’ll notice the E-3’s superior image quality in landscapes, portraits, and any scene with varied dynamic range or dim illumination. The Sony, meanwhile, shines in bright daylight conditions or casual snapshots where convenience trumps ultimate image fidelity.

Eye-Candy Displays: Viewing & Interface Considerations

How you compose and review shots matters, especially as screens continue evolving.

The Sony TX100V boasts a gorgeous 3.5-inch XtraFine OLED touchscreen with 1,229k dots and TruBlack technology, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. It’s a joy to use for framing shots, reviewing images, and navigating menus via touch - a boon for casual shooters or novices from the smartphone generation.

In contrast, the Olympus E-3’s 2.5-inch articulated LCD offers just 230k dots, quite low resolution and lacking touchscreen functionality. Articulation lets you shoot creative angles, but the screen quality pales compared to the Sony’s vibrant display. The viewfinder on the E-3 is an optical pentaprism with 100% coverage and a 0.58x magnification, delivering a bright and natural view that most compact cameras cannot match.

If you prefer composing with your eye up to the viewfinder, especially in bright outdoor conditions or portraits, the E-3 gives you a professional advantage - no screen glare to battle. If you’re the type to frame via live view or shoot more relaxed snapshots, the Sony’s large, high-res screen and touch control feel more modern and accessible.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh & Focus

Portraits demand gentle reproduction of skin tones, great subject isolation, and precise focus on eyes (or at least accurate focus).

The Olympus E-3, with its Four Thirds mount system, can use a vast repertoire of 45 lenses offering fast apertures and quality bokeh. Growing up with DSLRs, I’ve leaned heavily on the Olympus Zuiko lenses, which deliver pleasing color rendition and smooth out-of-focus backgrounds - vital for flattering portraits. The camera’s 11-point phase detection autofocus, though dated by today’s standards, performs well in good light, albeit without face or eye detection.

Sony’s TX100V fixed lens tops out at f/3.5 at wide-angle and f/4.6 telephoto, not exactly portrait-level aperture for creamy bokeh. Its autofocus uses contrast detection with 9 focus points, sufficient for casual portraits but likely to hunt or delay in low light. No eye or face detection is included here, so critical focus on eyes takes practice and patience.

For skin tone, the Olympus sensor renders more natural colors thanks to larger pixels and a mature color science pipeline. The Sony skews a bit cooler, and the small sensor struggles with subtle tone gradations.

Bottom line: If portraits are a priority, the Olympus E-3 paired with a fast prime lens outclasses the Sony TX100V every time.

Landscapes and Nature: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Weather Sealing

Landscape photogs crave detail, rich tones from shadows to highlights, and reliable weather resistance for outdoor conditions.

Although the Olympus E-3’s 10MP resolution is modest by modern standards, its native four-thirds sensor size and superior dynamic range enable stunning landscape images with excellent shadow recovery and highlight retention. Moreover, the E-3 is “environmentally sealed” - dust and splash resistant - built for shooting in misty mornings or dusty trails without worry.

Contrastingly, the Sony TX100V’s ultracompact stature means no environmental sealing and more vulnerability to elements. While it manages good resolution at 16 megapixels, the small sensor limits dynamic range, often clipping highlights or losing shadow details on challenging scenes.

So, for serious landscape shooters who want reliability and top-notch image quality without hauling a monstrous camera, the Olympus is a sound choice. But casual hikers or travelers wanting snapshots and convenience can still find the TX100V friendly.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus and Burst Rates

Capturing wildlife or sports action demands fast autofocus, high burst rates, and telephoto support.

The Olympus E-3 sports an 11-point phase detection AF system with continuous AF for tracking moving subjects, although it lacks sophisticated subject recognition like eye or animal detection autofocus common today. Its shutter can reach 1/8000s and supports 5 fps continuous shooting - not blazing fast, but usable for many action sequences.

The Sony TX100V’s contrast detection AF with 9 points lacks continuous AF tracking, limiting its ability to lock focus on fast-moving subjects reliably. It does fire 10 fps burst shooting, but only with focus and exposure locked on the first frame, which restricts usefulness for dynamic action.

Moreover, the Olympus has the lens mount advantage, able to equip super-telephoto lenses critical for wildlife/sports. The Sony’s fixed zoom tops out at only around 100mm effective focal length, limiting reach dramatically.

If wildlife or sports is your jam, the Olympus E-3’s autofocus system and lens ecosystem make it a much better bet.

Street and Travel Photography: Discreteness, Portability, and Battery Life

For street photogs and travelers, invisibility and portability often outweigh raw specs.

The Sony TX100V’s diminutive size and sleek styling allow you to slip through crowds unnoticed and react quickly to moments. Its built-in GPS is handy for geotagging travel shots, and optical image stabilization helps capture sharp handheld images.

In contrast, the Olympus E-3 is large to carry on urban strolls, making some street photography situations awkward, especially if you want to remain discreet. However, the E-3 offers far superior battery life (the TX100V’s tiny battery limits longevity), physical controls for speed, and extensive lens options for creative flexibility. For travel, the E-3’s weather sealing is reassuring during varied climates.

If you want a carry-anywhere camera for fun, fast snaps, Sony wins. But for serious travel documentation where flexibility, durability, and image quality matter, the E-3 contours to your needs - just prepare your arms for some heft.

Macro and Close-Up: Magnification and Focus Precision

Close-up photography demands sharp, precise focus, and good magnification capability.

The Olympus system’s lens variety again shines here, with macro lenses offering life-size 1:1 reproduction and autofocus precision. The sensor and optics translate intricate detail beautifully, ideal for flora, insects, or product textures.

The Sony’s fixed lens includes a macro mode but limited by its smaller sensor and less capable focusing system. It’s suitable for casual close-ups but won’t satisfy enthusiasts craving fine detail.

So for macro, Olympus definitely has the edge.

Night Sky and Astro: High ISO and Exposure Flexibility

Astrophotography is a niche but rewarding genre requiring excellent high ISO noise control and manual exposure modes.

The Olympus E-3 offers manual exposure and shutter speeds up to 60 seconds, giving freedom for long exposures under stars. Its Four Thirds sensor, while older, retains decent ISO performance up to ISO 800 or 1600 for cleaner images.

The Sony TX100V tops out at 1/1600s shutter speed but doesn’t support manual shutter control (no true manual mode), and its highest native ISO starts at 125, with high ISO images marred by noise on the small sensor.

Here, Olympus’s flexibility and sensor size translate into far better astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities: The Moving Image Story

The Olympus E-3 has no video recording capability - a reasonable omission in its 2008 context but limiting today.

The Sony TX100V offers Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps, a plus for casual video capture. It offers optical image stabilization and decent codec options (MPEG-4, AVCHD), making it suitable for social media content creators who want decent HD video without extra gear.

However, neither camera offers external mic inputs, headphone jacks, or advanced video features. The TX100V is the better choice for video, but if video is essential, newer cameras would be better suited.

Build Quality and Durability: Weather Resistance and Materials

The Olympus E-3 has a magnesium alloy chassis and environmental sealing, engineered to withstand dust and light rain - ideal for outdoor photographers who endure harsh shooting conditions.

The Sony TX100V’s plastic body and minimal sealing make it fragile by comparison, better suited for protected environments.

If you shoot professionally outdoors or in challenging environments, Olympus’s build quality offers peace of mind.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The E-3 uses Compact Flash cards and xD Picture Cards, while the Sony TX100V supports SD cards and various Memory Stick formats, showing the changing tides in memory tech.

On battery life, Olympus DSLRs typically outperform compacts, lasting several hundred shots on a charge versus roughly 200-300 for the Sony. These numbers may vary depending on use, but keep spares handy for the compact.

Connectivity-wise, the Sony TX100V offers built-in GPS and Eye-Fi wireless card support for photo transfer. The Olympus E-3 lacks Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS - understandable for its era but limits wireless convenience today.

How They Score: Performance and Genre Summary

Looking at formal performance scores confirms much of our hands-on analysis. The Olympus E-3 scores well in image quality, autofocus accuracy, and weather sealing, particularly useful in professional workflows. The Sony TX100V shines in portability, screen quality, and video capabilities but stumbles in dynamic range, autofocus sophistication, and ruggedness.

Gallery: Image Samples from Both Cameras

Olympus E 3 front Olympus E 3 screen back Sony TX100V screen back

Looking at real images side-by-side, the Olympus reveals richer tones, sharper details, and less noise at higher ISOs. The Sony’s images are bright and punchy but less nuanced, especially in shadows and highlights.

To Pros and Cons

Olympus E-3

Pros:

• Robust Four Thirds sensor with excellent image quality
• Weather-sealed magnesium alloy body
• Full manual controls with physical dials and optical viewfinder
• Large array of quality lenses for every genre
• Articulated LCD for flexible shooting angles
• Superior autofocus for its time with continuous AF
• Good battery life for extended sessions

Cons:

• Bulkier and heavier - not as travel-friendly
• No video recording
• Low-resolution LCD screen, no touchscreen
• No wireless connectivity or GPS
• Complex menus requiring some learning curve

Sony TX100V

Pros:

• Ultra-compact and lightweight - excellent portability
• Stunning OLED touchscreen with high resolution and vibrant colors
• Full HD video capture with optical image stabilization
• Built-in GPS for geotagging
• High resolution 16MP sensor for sharp stills under good light
• Fast 10 fps burst shooting (locked focus/exposure)
• Easy to use and quick startup times

Cons:

• Small sensor with limited low-light performance and dynamic range
• Fixed lens with slow apertures, limited for creative control
• No manual exposure modes or external mic support
• No weather sealing - fragile build
• Limited autofocus sophistication and tracking
• Smaller battery capacity
• No RAW support

Who Should Buy Which?

Take the Olympus E-3 if:

• You are a photography enthusiast or professional craving more creative control and lens options
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or macro and want superior image quality
• You require durability and weather sealing for outdoor work
• Video isn’t a must-have feature
• You don’t mind the bulk and want analog-style control comfort
• Your budget allows investing in lenses and accessories

Go for the Sony TX100V if:

• You want a compact camera to carry anywhere, anytime - traveling, street, casual snaps
• Full HD video and a stunning touchscreen top your must-have list
• You are a beginner or hobbyist who values convenience over complex controls
• Portability and ease of use top your priorities over ultimate image fidelity
• You want geotagging built-in for travel photography
• Budget-conscious buyers who want decent image quality without breaking the bank

Final Thoughts: Getting Real About Your Needs and Budget

I can’t stress enough that these two cameras, while interesting contenders, serve distinct purposes rooted in their design philosophies and eras. The Olympus E-3 is a seasoned adventurer’s DSLR - rugged, flexible, and image-focused but requiring commitment and some patience. The Sony TX100V is a sleek pocket companion - enabling quick memories and HD video but with clear compromises in image quality and control.

If you’re serious about photography across multiple genres, especially portraits, wildlife, or landscapes, and want the best in optical quality and longevity, the Olympus E-3 is a worthy investment despite its age. On the other hand, if you want an ultracompact, easy-to-use camera that still delivers relatively sharp JPEGs and video for everyday life, the Sony TX100V is the smarter, lighter pick.

Think about how and where you shoot most often; which features will enhance your creativity or simply fit into your lifestyle? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but I hope this deep dive arms you with the facts and perspectives to pick your next camera confidently.

Happy shooting!