Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL1

The following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E-PL1 (12MP) is fairly close and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was released 3 years before the E-PL1 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-3 grades versus the E-PL1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-3 and Olympus PEN E-PL1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-3 Gallery and Olympus E-PL1 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 provides external dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-3 compared to the E-PL1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and E-PL1 is 56 and 86 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through technical specs. The image below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and E-PL1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Olympus E-PL1 to render extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.