Clicky

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-5 was revealed 7 months prior to the E-PL3 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-5 matches up against the E-PL3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-5 E-PL3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-5

 E-PL3 E-5 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2011More modern by 7 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL3

 E-5 E-PL3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 has got outer measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-5 versus the E-PL3.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and E-PL3 is 58 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by checking technical specs. The picture below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and E-PL3.

As you have seen, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution so you should expect similar quality of images although you should always factor the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography details
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
56
weather proofing
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
44
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
64
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
comes with external mic port
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-02-03 2011-09-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ 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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 35
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 800g (1.76 lbs) 313g (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 143 x 117 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 519 499
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 300 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 One
Price at launch $1,700 $399