Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL3

Lets look closer at the Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL3, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both produced by Olympus. The resolution of the FE-4000 (12MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the FE-4000 (1/2.3") and E-PL3 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The FE-4000 was manufactured 3 years before the E-PL3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the FE-4000 matches up versus the E-PL3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus PEN E-PL3. The entire galleries are available at Olympus FE-4000 Gallery and Olympus E-PL3 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-4000 offers physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL3 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FE-4000 compared to the E-PL3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-4000 and E-PL3 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The image underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4000 and E-PL3.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The FE-4000 offers the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more aged FE-4000 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.