Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-P3

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-P3, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-510 was revealed 4 years before the E-P3 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-510 grades versus the E-P3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-510 & Olympus PEN E-P3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-510 Gallery & Olympus E-P3 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 provides exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P3 has measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-P3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-510 against the E-P3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and E-P3 is 69 and 86 respectively.

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and E-P3.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus E-P3 to resolve greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind in sensor tech.