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Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Introduced September 2006
  • Renewed by Olympus E-410
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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-400 (10MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-400 was brought out 6 years earlier than the E-PL3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-400 matches up vs the E-PL3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-400 E-PL3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-400

 E-PL3 E-400 
LaunchedSeptember 2011September 2006Fresher by 61 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kClearer screen (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL3

 E-400 E-PL3 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-400 has got physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL3 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-400 and the E-PL3.

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and E-PL3 is 77 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-400 and E-PL3.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-PL3 to offer greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older E-400 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
manual mode not available
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-400 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
60
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-400 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-400
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
49
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
44
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-400 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography factors
45
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus E-400Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-400 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2006-09-14 2011-09-20
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Truepic VI
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 215 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 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 file format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 435 grams (0.96 pounds) 313 grams (0.69 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 52
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 499
Other
Battery life - 300 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $599 $399