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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL7
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-PL6 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was introduced 7 years before the E-PL6 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-3 matches up versus the E-PL6 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-PL6

 E-3 E-PL6 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus E-3

 E-PL6 E-3 
IntroducedAugust 2014February 2008Fresher by 78 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL6

 E-3 E-PL6 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 features external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL6 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-3 and the E-PL6.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and E-PL6 is 56 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and E-PL6.

All in all, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus E-PL6 to result in more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL6 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (10MP)
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL6 Street photography details
69
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL6 as a Sports photography camera
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography features
55
weather proof
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
85
supports focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography information
56
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
low MP (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging factors
18
no video shooting
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no microphone port
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL6
 Olympus E-3Olympus PEN E-PL6
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-3 Olympus PEN E-PL6
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-02-20 2014-08-01
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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 lb) 325g (0.72 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $670 $300