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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 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
  • Launched February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and E-PL7 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was brought out 7 years before the E-PL7 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-3 scores against the E-PL7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Olympus E-PL7

 E-3 E-PL7 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus E-3

 E-PL7 E-3 
LaunchedSeptember 2014February 2008More modern by 79 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL7

 E-3 E-PL7 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 comes with outside measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL7 has sizing of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 against the E-PL7.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and E-PL7 is 56 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing technical specs. The image underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and E-PL7.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Olympus E-PL7 to render extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL7 Street photography features
69
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography highlights
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL7
55
environment proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
85
supports focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
56
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging info
Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging info
18
can't record video
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-PL7
 Olympus E-3Olympus PEN E-PL7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-3 Olympus PEN E-PL7
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-02-20 2014-09-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lb) 357 gr (0.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 12.4
DXO Low light rating 571 873
Other
Battery life - 350 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $670 $499