With one of the fastest autofocus system in the world, the Olympus E-3 holds an exclusive 11-point biaxial auto focus system that provides auto focusing with exceptional precision and speed. Witness exceptional image quality with the newly developed high-performance 10.1-megapixels Live MOS Sensor, providing high resolution capable of accurately reproducing subject details with rich tones and more natural colours. Increased reading speed on the Olympus E-3 supports 5 frames per second continuous shooting with a 19 image RAW buffer in burst mode, giving photographers the ability to capture fast-paced action at complimenting speeds. Though the Olympus E-3 has a 10-megapixel sensor like the E-510 and E-410, the new sensor has been improved to support the faster read speed to help enable five-frame-per-second continuous shooting. Metering options include 49-zone ESP metering, Spot, Center-weighted, and a new Highlight/Shadow spot metering mode.

In addition to the new autofocus sensor the E-3 sees the introduction of a new range of 'SWD' (Supersonic Wave Drive) lenses. Olympus exclusive Supersonic Wave Drive built-in image stabilisation effectively compensates against the effects of camera shake, getting up to a five step EV stabilisation effect with the Zuiko Digital lenses. Providing users with extra versatility, the 2.5-inch free-angle swivel Live View LCD display paves way for alternate shooting styles while achieving results with extra creativity.

The Olympus E-3's grip is very comfortable, shaped a little differently from the E-510, a little less aggressive on the forward curve, which gives the middle finger a more confident grip overall. It's also a little fatter and contoured, with a nice, tacky rubber surface for excellent traction. The Olympus E-3's body is made from magnesium alloy which ensures greater durability, with less potential for bubbles or seams in the magnesium alloy shell structures.