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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P3, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was announced 3 years before the E-P3 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-30 scores versus the E-P3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-P3

 E-30 E-P3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus E-30

 E-P3 E-30 
RevealedAugust 2011March 2009Fresher by 29 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P3

 E-30 E-P3 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 provides external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Olympus E-P3 has sizing of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-30 versus the E-P3.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and E-P3 is 60 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and E-P3.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical MP so you can expect comparable quality of photos but you really should take the launch date of the cameras into account. The older E-30 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography features
Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus via touch
screen does not articulate
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
52
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (750 shots)
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography features
Olympus E-P3 Travel photography features
49
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
60
has focus via touch
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography info
52
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
18
no video recording
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P3
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-P3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-P3
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2011-08-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 369 gr (0.81 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 51
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.1
DXO Low light rating 530 536
Other
Battery life 750 shots 330 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,299 $0