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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
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
  • Released September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was launched 4 years earlier than the E-PL3 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-420 grades versus the E-PL3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-420 E-PL3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-420

 E-PL3 E-420 
ReleasedSeptember 2011June 2008Newer by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL3

 E-420 E-PL3 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 has external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL3 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-420 versus the E-PL3.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and E-PL3 is 77 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through technical specs. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and E-PL3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PL3 to resolve more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography details
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery life (300 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
52
lighter than competitors (426g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
44
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery life (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-06-23 2011-09-20
Physical type Compact 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 area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 pounds) 313 grams (0.69 pounds)
Physical 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 Overall rating 56 52
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 20.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light rating 527 499
Other
Battery life 500 shots 300 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $999 $399