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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Alternative Name is mju 550WP
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus 550WP, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the 550WP (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and 550WP (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was launched 2 years later than the 550WP and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-P3 scores versus the 550WP for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus 550WP

 E-P3 550WP 
ReleasedAugust 2011January 2009Fresher by 32 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Olympus E-P3

 550WP E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus 550WP

 E-P3 550WP 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 offers physical measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Olympus 550WP has proportions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus 550WP in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-P3 compared to the 550WP.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and 550WP is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out specs. The photograph underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and 550WP.

All in all, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-P3 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern E-P3 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus 550WP Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography advice
Olympus 550WP Street photography advice
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
screen does not articulate
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Olympus 550WP
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather sealing
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Olympus 550WP Travel photography info
60
comes with touch focus
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
55
weather sealing
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
Olympus 550WP Landscape photography information
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather sealing
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus 550WP as a Vlogging camera
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing mic jack
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus 550WP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus 550WP
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Stylus 550WP
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Alternative name - mju 550WP
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-08-17 2009-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.0
Macro focus distance - 7cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $0 $399