A comparison of the Olympus E-1, E-3 and E-5 DSLRs

This is a hands-on comparison of the three flagship models in the Olympus EVOLT line, which was part of the Four Thirds System.
Released 05-05-2021
I am an author, filmmaker, photographer and consultant. I make infrequent videos on a wide range of topics.
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[@NiGhtPiSH]

The E-1 is a masterpiece of industrial design and ergonomics, that fits all hands perfectly. I love having it with me, when I'm out and about. It's a treat to shoot with the 11-22mm f2.8-3.5 and the 50mm f2 Macro.

[@user-vi4um7uf2b]

Всегда нравились эти камеры е1, е3, е5. И вообще люблю олимпус

[@freeamerican6784]

Really nice video Raoul. Each of those cameras are all top notch Pro cameras. Regardless of their age. My E-1 had 68 shutter actuation's on it when purchased in 2015. Now it has 147. My collection also includes two E-5's and an EM1. Fantastic cameras. Some might consider them old technology but I appreciate the quality of these vintage pro cameras. Waiting for the price to drop a little more on a used EM1 MK II , EM1 MKIII, and eventually the EM1X as people sell off their gear and move on to the next newest camera. I also own the 50-200 f2.8 to 3.5 SWD lens. The 12-60 f2.8 to 4.0 SWD lens. The 150mm F2.0 prime lens. The 50mm f2.0 macro lens. The 14-54 f2.8 to 3.5 lens, and a couple Sigma's in four thirds as well as MFT. Also have the Olympus FL-50R flash. I built most of my collection around the Olympus DSLR camera system because I totally appreciate Olympus's Pro camera quality.

[@toke7560]

They made fantastic pictures way back. The same pictures today are still beautiful.

[@freeamerican6784]

@@toke7560 I agree. I finally found the right deal on an EM-1 MK!! so I gave my E-1 to my daughter and one of my E-5's to my Son. They are perfectly fine with the older technology and quality of the Olympus Pro Cameras.

[@chakwong]

I bought a E330 new. I gave it to a friend’s daughter after a couple of years. I regretted it so recently I looked for it in the used websites. Couldn’t find it so I bought a pristine E620 for $120 CAN. After viewing your excellent video I will be on the outlook for a E330 again. Ah, nostalgia!

[@martlet530]

Have now watched this multiple times. So much information. I hope you will return to these camera for more videos. Many thanks!

[@pwood5733]

Had my e1 from new and still my every day camera love it and not one single thing has stopped working or broken. I have changed the strap but only because my neice bought me a strap once for my birthday.

[@jschoenzy9416]

I appreciate the comparison between these great cameras. I just bought an E-1 on a sales forum but it hasn't arrived yet. Looking forward to using it and just having fun with photography. I don't want to spend a lot on the latest gear. I appreciate build quality and that's what drew me to these old clasics. That old ccd has a lot of appeal as well. I used to have an Olympus c-5050 and it's ccd always impressed me. Like a fool I sold it for a song on the way to something modern. Now I'm committed to old gear, having fun and staying within budget. Thanks again.

[@sinclairforrest2178]

I’ve had my E-1 since 2005 and have a number of Zuiko lenses to go with it. Lovely camera, great photos (as long as you keep within its ISO comfort zone, max 400), and built like a tank (I dropped mine from waist height onto the sidewalk and it just shrugged it off). And the shutter is so quiet.

[@ngwah1218]

E1 is the best colour even in today

[@Austinite333]

I am going through 23 years of old shots on cds. The shots from the E1 are among the best. CCD sensors were not appreciated as they should have been.

[@markogrubisic]

E-1 is the king!

[@terrym540]

I have recently bought a Panasonic DMC-L1 which, like the Olympus E-330, flips the mirror side ways. It is styled like a range finder hence it uses a porro mirror instead of a prism. It also has live view, and the sensor cleaning system. It does not have in body stabilisation, but the Leica zoom 'kit lens' does have switchable stabilisation.

[@RaoulPop]

Nice!

[@geriesandmann4485]

Hi Raoul, what a wonderful side by side comparison. I have the E-1 and E-3 and just like you I love my E-1 best for it’s simplicity and ergonomics. Wonderful colours and handling is so natural. I always love taking out my E-1 and enjoy it’s pictures. I als have Panasonic G85 and Olympus Em-1 (1) which I also like very much. And....I also use my Zuiko 14-54 and 50-200 ( my alltime favourite lens) extensively. Thank you for your warm and loving description and handling of the ‘vintage’ but everlasting E-1.🤙🍀And...did I mention the dreamlike shuttersound of the E-1...one out of a million.

[@RaoulPop]

:-)

[@geriesandmann4485]

Hi Raoul...because you love the E-1 as much as I do. Do you know how to photograph in b/w? Is that possible in a programme mode?

[@EDHBlvd]

These are super neat. I kind of want to find an E-1 now, and one of those f/2 or f/2.8 zooms Zuiko made.

[@s1dew1nd3r4]

Really tempted to buy either an e3, e5 or something like an e620 and buy up some of the zuiko lenses to go with one of them.. Will give a unique look and I'd imagine quite quick af considering the all x type sensors and being a dslr!

[@Hitokiri2000]

Awesome video and comparison Raoul. you should do more videos with and about the E-system. Such a great shame Olympus stopped the production and development of their most excellent E-System 4/3 line. I feel they should have kept the DSLR line alive for those of us who don't like the small mirroles cams. What I don't get is that since Olympus continues to develop new M4/3 bodies why don't they incorporate a top display on them like on some of the DSLR bodies (E-1, E-3, E-30 and E-5) the many years I used my E-520 I always missed having a top display, so when I got my E-30 it was so super awesome. I have several of the E-System bodies, an E-520, two E-30's and two E-5's and I want an E-330 too, but they are hard to find in good condition where I live. The shutter sound your E-330 sounds exactly like my E-520. What sort of E-System lenses do you have and use?

[@RaoulPop]

Thank you for the kind words. There are advantages to mirrorless cameras, advantages that Olympus pioneered back when they began introducing them, such as Live View and others. I love DSLRs but I also love mirrorless cameras. I don't have a lot of E-system lenses. What I've got is the 35mm macro, the 7-14mm wide, the 14-45mm zoom and the 40-150mm zoom. There was a time when I wanted to buy more but other priorities have since intervened.

[@bublt4me]

I wish they made the grips to blend in with the body better. It looks like it was slapped on the E-5. The E-1 grip looks like it was blended in.

[@RaoulPop]

I agree, it fits remarkably well on the E-1, whereas on the E-3 and E-5, it looks like it was "slapped on". But you'll find the same design issue on Canon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, unless you get their pro cameras with the grip designed right into the body. That's why I loved using the E-M1X, whose grip was an integral part of the body. It fit my hand so well and it looked so good.

[@BenjaminBS]

very interesting. I dare say your quiet voice and slow approach made watching the video a therapeutic session.

[@gusatvoschiavon]

3 beautiful cameras... Just added the 3 to my Christmas wishlist 🙏 Can you make a video about the e-330

[@rpgroome]

Olympus were the first to have the self cleaning sensors, but Minolta was first with sensor based stabilization with the Dimage A1, and first in DSLR’s with IBIS with the 7D.

[@RaoulPop]

I didn't know that, thank you for letting me know!

[@photo1416]

I like the color reproduction of some old cameras , such as, for example, Canon 5D, Nikon with a CCD sensor , I think I would like this first E

[@RaoulPop]

CCD sensors somehow make better colors than CMOS sensors. It's unfortunate that we moved most cameras to CMOS. What we gained in low light capabilities, we lost in color capture capabilities.

[@photo1416]

@@RaoulPop I absolutely agree with you. That's probably why Leica has been using SSD for a long time

[@vedranr.glavina7667]

@@RaoulPop unfortunately.... film colours are real (almost) when exposing / processing in state-of-the-art labs....

[@lichtloper]

e3 and e5 have no mode dials, instead mode buttons. that would be a good idea for future Olympus bodies, because who needs to change exp.modes all the time?

[@pwood5733]

Sorry to comment twice but the same year i bought my e1 new i also bought a volvo v70 and thats still my car and parked outside with 178k miles on it going strong. The e1 and the volvo estate seem to have that similar build quality and timeless stile and just work

[@RaoulPop]

Glad to hear we can still find reliable products for sale!

[@christill]

Great cameras. As far as the white stuff, there’s certainly a lot of pollution everywhere, so I can imagine that would get into the precipitation. We’ve really done a number on ourselves with the forever chemicals.

[@hoanglong-nv6wv]

nowaday these cameras realy hard to find , nice video by the way

[@bsuthe]

Hello Rauol, I just discovered this video in which you discuss four of the E-System cameras I actually own: The E-330, E-1, E-3, and E-5. I plan to "resurrect" my E-5 on an upcoming trip I'm planning, along with my MFT gear. I appreciate your understated style, and the factual information you presented. But then you went on to Chemtrails! Residue on your camera? Really? I think those who believe in Chemtrails simply don't understand Contrails, and why sometimes they form, and sometimes they don't. None-the-less I'm fond of saying, tongue in cheek, we need the vaccines because the Chemtrails didn't work! 🙂

[@RaoulPop]

Right... Well, thanks for the kind words about the cameras anyway. As for the rest, let's just let everyone make up their own minds on the subjects. If you thought my thoughts on chemtrails were disturbing, you should see some of the other videos I published during the last year or so. Happy vaxxines, boosters and chemtrails to you!

[@Superbus753]

I still miss some features of my e-620. non oft the others (maby better) olympus cameras have. Not the e-5 nor the em-5, em-1, em-1 mk ii, and also not the om-1.

[@jonnyem.8859]

Prices on all 3 have doubled or tripled on e-bay in the last month, if they can be found at all

[@RaoulPop]

Speculation and scarcity... These cameras were not popular so they never sold in large numbers. Greed is the main culprit here though.

[@SMGJohn]

Not sure why but I keep going back to older cameras, once you got the latest and greatest it sort of stop being fun, it all looks so clean and clinical, so perfect all the images the modern cameras take are too good, old cameras had charm, its like shooting film but without the pain of developing and costing 5 euro per shot. Its like you have to consider exposing for the shadows or the lights, there so many ways to work around a poorly lit scene, brings me back to the old days of shooting Canon 400D what a pillock of a camera that was but Christ the images it could make when handled correctly. And the weight and size of (Micro) Four Thirds lenses are unmatched. Its hard to explain, its like you stop giving a crap after a while, DSLR's certainly has a lot of charm thanks to their super long battery life not that I snap like a crazy paparazzi but its good to have that battery life in tough conditions like in winter or on long journeys not having to charge the camera once or twice a day is a joy I forgot I had. The fact these cameras are not even that expensive today so you can easily bring it with you on trips, who cares if someone steals it just smash their face with the camera its built like a tank. And if it breaks, just get another body, with time its just gonna go cheaper although I am not sure how these CCD variants hold up since CCD's tend to age really poorly duo to their organic materials degrading.

[@RaoulPop]

The CCD in my E-1 is holding up just great. I love the colors. Remember Olympus switched to CMOS after the E-1, so the E-3 and E-5 no longer have CCDs. The colors are very different.

[@SMGJohn]

@@RaoulPop You did not notice any form of peeling on the E-1 sensor? Its an infamous Kodak problem, was thinking of picking up the E-1 myself but was afraid of the CCD not holding up too well with time.

[@RaoulPop]

@@SMGJohn No. Guess I'm lucky if you say it's a problem. Mine was kept in almost mint condition and had only a few thousand shot frames when I bought it. Just checked the sensor again and it looks great. I still use the camera from time to time and I love the photos I'm getting with it.

[@heliopijpe]

sidenote: (Thank you for the chemtrail / weather modification reference absolutely a real thing).

[@RaoulPop]

You're welcome. Every country has a department that handles weather modification, including Romania, which is where I live, and when you talk with them, they readily admit that they alter where the rain (and implicitly, the snow) falls, and yet people think I'm a kook when I tell them about it.

[@StephenStrangways]

The same thing has happened with every E-330 screen I've ever seen, and many of the original Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras screens. It's the anti-reflection portion delaminating, and it's just bad design that will happen to all of them over time, not improper cleaning by previous owners.

[@RaoulPop]

It is a pity. I haven't seen it on other models of the Olympus cameras, so perhaps it only happened on the E-330.

[@jalakanen]

E-1 is a slide film simulator, max iso 400 and you cannot crop..

[@RaoulPop]

Max ISO is 800 and once you boost the ISO through the menus, it goes up to 3200. But it's quite noisy above 800. Though not as bad as some people might think. Try not to make statements like yours before you research them...

[@jalakanen]

@@RaoulPop yeah. Ps. I have used E-1 since 2015 and never use iso 800 because this gives best results from iso 100-400

[@jalakanen]

E-1 is like a glove. Much better than E-3. I haven't tried E-5 but it seems to be similar than E-3.

[@RaoulPop]

E-1 is amazing to hold. So good. Even when you hold it with one hand it's perfectly balanced. The E-3 is alright. It does just fine. Although identical to the E-3 on the outside, the E-5 somehow feels off-balance when you hold it. I always find myself needing to couch its left side in my left hand in order to balance it. It's not a pleasant experience to shoot that camera one-handed.

[@eightosaurusspelunk1598]

Does the E-1 feel better than the Pentax K5 series? Those are the best feeling cameras I have ever used but I've never held an E-1

[@RaoulPop]

@@eightosaurusspelunk1598 I've never used the K5 series, so I don't know.

[@dart9041]

Chemtrails is a reality. As a chemist, I agree.

[@realamericannegro977]

E1 has the most pleasing looking pics to me