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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus E-PL3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is fairly close and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the E-PL3 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-3 grades versus the E-PL3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-3 E-PL3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-3

 E-PL3 E-3 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2008More modern by 43 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL3

 E-3 E-PL3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 offers exterior measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Olympus E-PL3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-3 and the E-PL3.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and E-PL3 is 56 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The pic below may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and E-PL3.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PL3 to render more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography advice
69
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
55
weather proof
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
44
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
small screen (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging info
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
18
no video
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no mic port
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus E-3Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-02-20 2011-09-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Truepic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 313 grams (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 52
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 20.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 10.3
DXO Low light rating 571 499
Other
Battery life - 300 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $670 $399