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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Key Specs

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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-2
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Olympus. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and SH-3 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and SH-3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was brought out 5 years prior to the SH-3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-P3 grades vs the SH-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus SH-3

 E-P3 SH-3 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution614k460kCrisper screen (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus E-P3

 SH-3 E-P3 
RevealedFebruary 2016August 2011More recent by 54 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SH-3

 E-P3 SH-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 comes with outside dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Olympus SH-3 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 vs the SH-3.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and SH-3 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The graphic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and SH-3.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus SH-3 will resolve extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography info
Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
44
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Street photography camera
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
no articulating screen
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
lighter than competition (271g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography factors
Olympus SH-3 Sports photography factors
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Olympus SH-3
60
comes with touch focus
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
great battery life (380 shots)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
supports focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography information
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
55
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
Olympus SH-3 Vlogging details
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
35
really wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SH-3
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Stylus SH-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-08-17 2016-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 grams (0.81 pounds) 271 grams (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 380 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $579