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Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-3 versus Sony WX30, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and WX30 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and WX30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was manufactured 4 years prior to the WX30 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-3 scores against the WX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Sony WX30

 E-3 WX30 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Olympus E-3

 WX30 E-3 
LaunchedJuly 2011February 2008More modern by 41 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Sony WX30

 E-3 WX30 

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 comes with outside measurements 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 WX30 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Sony WX30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 versus the WX30.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and WX30 is 56 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The pic below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and WX30.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony WX30 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography features
Sony WX30 Portrait photography features
57
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
30
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Street photography camera
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography features
Sony WX30 Sports photography features
58
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography info
Sony WX30 Travel photography info
55
environment sealing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
69
lighter than competitors (117g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Sony WX30 Landscape photography info
56
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
small screen (2.5 inch)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
43
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Sony WX30 Vlogging advice
18
no video shooting
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-3 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Sony WX30
 Olympus E-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-02-20 2011-07-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 gr (1.96 pounds) 117 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery life - 250 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $670 $259