PCW Shop & Compare

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Avg User Rating

4 User Reviews
Price Range
$1469.00 - $1699.99
(15 sellers)

Enter ZIP code to see your total cost

Compare Prices

- FEATURED
- $1469.00 BUY NOW
- 3073 Reviews
- FEATURED
- $1485.00 BUY NOW
- 5340 Reviews
- FEATURED
- $1499.00 BUY NOW
- 1534 Reviews
- FEATURED
- $1499.00 BUY NOW
- 793 Reviews
- FEATURED
- $1499.00 BUY NOW
- 22926 Reviews

* Total cost includes estimated tax and shipping in the continental US. Prices and availability are subject to change by merchant without notice. Sales taxes and shipping costs are only estimates. Please check with merchant for details.

Manufacturer's Description

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

The Olympus E-3 is the flagship of its Digital SLR line and provides the high-precision performance demanded by professional and enthusiastic photographers. It combines speed and weatherproof durability for capturing exceptional images in any situation. Olympus pioneered Full Time Live View and Dust Reduction technologies for digital SLR cameras, leading where others have followed. Now, the new E-3 enhances those technical innovations and raises the performance bar with the fastest autofocus in the world. Body-Integrated Mechanical Image Stabilization to stabilize every lens, a 10-megapixel Live MOS image sensor to capture beautiful images, and a magnesium alloy body for dust-proof and splash-proof durability join the impressive innovations developed for the E-3.

Find the Olympus E3 manual
presented by retrevo.com

Product Specifications for

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Image Quality
Max Vertical Image Resolution	2736 pixels
Image Format	JPEG
Number of Resolution Modes	7
Max Horizontal Image Resolution	3648 pixels
Image Stabilization	CCD Shift

Lens Features
Lens Mount	Interchangeable
Focus Features	Auto Focus\|Focus Lock\|Manual Focus\|Multiple Point Focusing\|Spot Focus

Reference
Warranty Information	1 Year Limited Warranty
URL	http://www.olympusamerica.com/e3/index.asp

Shutter Performance
Maximum Shutter Speed	8000 1/x sec.
Minimum Shutter Speed	60 sec.
Continuous Shooting Speed	5 frames/s (fps)

Image Processor
Image Sensor Quantity	1
Number of Image Sensor Pixels	11800000
Image Sensor	CMOS
Focal Length Conversion Factor (SLR)	2

Dimensions
Weight	1.79 lbs
Depth	2.9 in
normalized-Weight	28.64
Width	5.6 in
Height	4.58 in

Other Features
Power Source	DC Input\|Lithium Ion Battery
General Features	Photo Date/Time Stamping\|Pictbridge Support\|Self Timer\|Water Resistant
Included Components	Cables - Audio/Video\|Cables - USB\|Carrying Strap\|External Battery Charger
LCD Screen Size	2.5 in
Interface Connection	USB - Universal Serial Bus\|Video - Out (Unspecified)
Camera Body Only	Yes
Flash Characteristics	Accessory Shoe\|Built-in Auto Flash\|Flash Cancel (Off)\|Forced / Fill Flash\|Red-Eye Reduction\|Slow Speed Sync

Exposure Controls
ISO Equivalencies	100\|1600\|200\|3200\|400\|800
Exposure Settings	AE Lock\|Aperture Priority\|Auto Exposure\|Exposure Bracketing\|Manual Exposure\|Multiple Program Modes\|Shutter Priority
Bulb Setting	Yes
Metering Characteristics	Center-weighted\|Multi-Segment\|Spot\|TTL
Exposure Compensation Range (±)	5 1/f
Number of Scene Modes	5
White Balance	Auto\|Bracketing\|Manual\|Preset Modes

Storage
Memory Type	CompactFlash\|Microdrive\|xD-Picture Card

Find the Olympus E3 manual
presented by retrevo.com

Most recent User Reviews for

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Reviewed by: slicksta65

05-17-08

Duration of ownership: 1 Months

Strengths: Autofocus / Build quality

Weaknesses:Still a bit Pricey

Overall Evaluation: I'm not a pro, but I sure feel like one with the E-3 in hand. This was an upgrade from the E-300 and after 1 month I am very pleased. Auto focus is quick and accurate even in low light and without the new SWD lenses. So far I've used the 14-54 and the 50-200 on it and I'm very impressed with the pics. I'll update once I get a chance to use the 50 and the 7-14. After learning what needed to be tweaked on the E-300, I was able to get some amazing shots. And I'm sure once I'm comfortable with the E-3 I'll be able to take it to the next level. So far I've taken some softball pics and was pleased with the action shots I was able to capture. If your into the 4/3 system, I don't think you will be disappointed. Prior to this I looked into Canon and Nikon. Canon in my opinion in this price range is of much cheaper build quality. And though Nikon was a close runner up for me, I've always been impressed with the color achieved and the quality of the Olympus glass.
Reviewed by: am1man

04-28-08

Duration of ownership: 3 Weeks

Strengths: Quick focus with new lens

Weaknesses:Menus, functions, buttons

Overall Evaluation: A longtime Oly fan I had to buy a Nikon D200 a while back because Olympus did not have anything comparable in same price range. Now that the E-3 is out I got one. I am disappointed. Biggest headache is the single focus point procedure. In the Nikon if you want to be able to manually choose the one single focus point from the many available you just set it up in the menu and then, using your thumb on the back directional button, move the selected focus point to wherever you want it for each shot. On the Oly E-3 you can't set this up in the menu, per se. You choose that type of focus selection BUT for each and every shot you first have to press this small focus selection button on the back corner of the camera with one finger and then with your thumb use the 4 arrow buttons on the back (not a single form-fitting thumb button like the Nikon) to move the highlighted focus point. You can also scroll through them all with the 2 wheels until you land on the one you want. You can not set it up to do this for every shot without having to "activate" it first with this little button. A lot of finger moving and time wasted and missed shots. The Nikon is sooooo much easier. I consider this a major problem with the E-3. The Menus are not as easy or as detailed as in the D200. No battery info, just icon when Full and when Low so you have no idea about how much batt power you have used or have left until it is critical. Manual power selection for the internal flash are about half as many as in the D200. D200 has Full, 1/2,1/4,1/8,1/16,1/32,1/64, and 1/128. The E-3 only has Full,1/4,1/16, and 1/64. Now why is that? Seems to me it is just a simple software function in the firmware so why so few choices? I'm not so worried about the smaller ones but, gee, where is 1/2 and 1/8? Those would be the ones I would use a lot. Oly has a good camera and then screws it up with these little things that drive you crazy but would seem so easy to correct in the firmware. A toggle button on the back instead of the 4 arrow buttons is needed too. Bottom Line- So far I am sorry I got the E-3 (and with the new expensive 12-60mm lens).
Reviewed by: byount

03-25-08

Duration of ownership: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Fast AF with improved low-light performance, improved high ISO performance (compared to other Olympus models), great lens catalog and in-body IS works with Zuiko Digital and legacy lenses.

Weaknesses:Not quite as ergonomically satisfying as the E-1 and certainly heavier, no focus assist lamp (uses built-in flash), probably a little over-priced.

Overall Evaluation: I am a photography enthusiast, not a professional, so please take my remarks accordingly. This camera more than meets my personal needs, and was a logical upgrade from the E-1. My primary frustration with the E-1 was its challenges in low-light focusing (even with fast lenses). To this end, the E-3 is a dramatic improvement.The body is comfortable in the hand, though slightly less so than the E-1. It is well balanced, and I prefer to use it with the HLD-4 grip. The grip itself is a little ornery at times with clone batteries (locking up the camera), and is not quite as comfortable as the HLD-2. While I've never been a pixel peeper and found 5 MP more than enough for my printing needs, I'm sure I will enjoy the greater resolution and ability to do hard crops if desired. The ISO 1600 is dramatically better than the E-1 with a film-like grain. Of course, one aspect of the E-3 that sets it apart from the Canon and Nikon semi-pro offerings is the articulated LCD. Some will complain about the size (2.5" vs their 3" displays). Coming from the E-1's small 1.8" display, I have no complaints. I would rather have the articulation than the larger size, as it allows me to shoot from the ground, the waist, and overhead if necessary. My initial attraction to Olympus was the more compact lens size afforded by the system, as I like to do landscape shots on hikes. Having the in-body IS now allows me more latitude with many of my non-tripod shots. The reason I chose the E-3 over the E-510 is primarily for its enhanced durability and splash-proof design. I also use the FP-1 power flash grip with the FL-50, and the E-510 does not have the necessary connector for shutter triggering. All in all, it is not perfect for everybody, but my needs are more than met, and that is the question you must ask yourself when comparing each of these exceptional cameras.
Reviewed by: RLQ

01-15-08

Duration of ownership: 3 Months

Strengths: This camera has many features and is very fast.

Weaknesses:None yet

Overall Evaluation: This camera has the fastest auto focus I have ever seen. It has many options for the focus. It also has dust reduction that works and is built like a tank. I used the camera in all weather conditions including subzero and it worked flawless.

See more user reviews »

More user reviews from around the web
presented by retrevo.com

Review:

Olympus E3 Digital SLR Camera

This big, heavy, rugged SLR camera has extensive advanced controls and fast burst-shooting speed, and can autofocus very quickly.

The 10.1-megapixel E3, the top dog in Olympus's line of digital single-lens-reflex (DSLR) cameras, is an attractive package for both pros and serious amateurs. You have to be serious about your photography--and have plenty of arm strength--though, because the bulky E3 body alone costs $1700 and weighs just under 2 pounds. Adding the lenses increases both the cost and the heft: The 12mm-to-60mm (24mm-to-120mm, 35mm equivalent) zoom I received with the E3 is around $900, by itself, and together the body and lens tip the scales at an arm-fatiguing 3.25 pounds.

Read more about E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only...

More Olympus E3 reviews from around the web
presented by retrevo.com

Email Address	Forgot your password?
Password

PCW Shop & Compare

Also inDigital Cameras

RSS Feeds

Become a PCW Member

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Avg User Rating

Price Range

Compare Prices

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Manufacturer's Description

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Product Specifications for

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Most recent User Reviews for

Olympus E-3 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Add Your Review

Submit your Review

Reviewed by: slicksta65

Reviewed by: am1man

Reviewed by: byount

Reviewed by: RLQ

Review:

Olympus E3 Digital SLR Camera

Shop & Compare Sections

Also in
Digital Cameras

Become a
PCW Member