Olympus E-M1 vs Canon EOS M3

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Olympus E-M1 vs Canon EOS M3

Leave Feedback

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M1.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M3 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M3.
Compare Canon EOS M3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M1 II
Compare E-M1 vs E-M1 II

Succeeded by the Canon EOS M6
Compare EOS M3 vs EOS M6

Compare OLYMPUS E-M1 II vs CANON EOS M6

Buy From

Differences

Olympus E-M1 advantages over Canon EOS M3

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 2.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

350 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Higher max flash sync
1/320 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 4.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.9 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
50 vs 4 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Olympus E-M1

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
EOS M3 test data on DxO Mark E-M1 test data on DxO Mark

1,169 vs 757 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
44 mm vs 63 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
366g vs 497g
Lighter weight
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 50 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read E-M1 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M3 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-M1

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 12-40mm Lens

All E-M1 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M3

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (White)

All EOS M3 Deals

Review Excerpt

Exceptional rugged, weather-proof, professional build; Lightning fast contrast-detect AF, and phase-detect AF that makes Four Thirds lenses far more responsive; Tons of useful physical controls with immense customizability; Arguably the best image quality of any Micro Four Thirds camera we've tested to date; Large, sharp, high-resolution electronic viewfinder; Advanced Wi-Fi capabilities, including remote control shooting in PASM exposure modes.
Bigger and heavier than many other compact system cameras; Most expensive Micro Four Thirds camera on the market to date; Menu system and customization options have a steep learning curve; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash.
Read our Olympus E-M1 Review

DSLR image quality & resolution in a mirrorless body; Higher-res 24MP APS-C sensor; Much improved AF performance; Better ergonomics with full PASM dial; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC; Tilting LCD.
No built-in EVF; Limited native lens selection; Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; No 60p video frame rate or 4K video option.
Read our Canon EOS M3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
Fast startup

$900
4/3

Thinner
Shoots 60p video

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5

Canon EOS M3

Olympus E-M5

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$900
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GH3

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Longer stills battery life

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH3

Canon EOS M3

Panasonic GH3

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$798
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GH3

Compared to Panasonic GH4

Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GH4

$1099
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
On-sensor phase detect

$898
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH4

Canon EOS M3

Panasonic GH4

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

$898
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GH4

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Olympus E-M1

Samsung NX3000

$1099
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$950
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung NX3000

Canon EOS M3

Samsung NX3000

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Panasonic GX8

Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GX8

$1099
4/3

Fast startup
On-sensor phase detect

$998
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GX8

Canon EOS M3

Panasonic GX8

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$998
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GX8

Compare Other Cameras?