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Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
82
Imaging
69
Features
58
Overall
64
Leica CL front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Leica CL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 50000
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 403g - 131 x 78 x 45mm
  • Announced November 2017
Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
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Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Leica and Olympus. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the CL (24MP) and E-PL3 (12MP) and the CL (APS-C) and E-PL3 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor size.

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The CL was launched 6 years after the E-PL3 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the CL matches up versus the E-PL3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Leica CL over the Olympus E-PL3

 CL E-PL3 
AnnouncedNovember 2017September 2011Newer by 76 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Leica CL

 E-PL3 CL 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Leica CL and Olympus E-PL3

 CL E-PL3 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Leica CL has got outer dimensions of 131mm x 78mm x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") along with a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL3 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

See the Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the CL versus the E-PL3.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the CL and E-PL3 is 82 and 88 respectively.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the CL and E-PL3.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The CL featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Leica CL will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The fresher CL provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica CL Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
73
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
lack of manual focus
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Leica CL as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
73
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
above average ISO range (50,000)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Leica CL Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
63
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/25,000 seconds)
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Leica CL Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
66
offers touch to focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
44
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery power (300 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Leica CL Landscape photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
69
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (50,000)
saves RAW files
lack of manual focus
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica CL as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen functionality
features face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Leica CL vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica CL and Olympus E-PL3
 Leica CLOlympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Company Leica Olympus
Model type Leica CL Olympus PEN E-PL3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2017-11-21 2011-09-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Maestro II Truepic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 6014 x 4014 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 50000 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 49 35
Lens
Lens support Leica L Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 30 107
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/25000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 403 grams (0.89 pounds) 313 grams (0.69 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 78 x 45mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 1.8") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 52
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 499
Other
Battery life 220 images 300 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-DC12 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $3,799 $399