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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2009
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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus FE-5010 versus Olympus E-PL3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and E-PL3 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The FE-5010 was announced 3 years before the E-PL3 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the FE-5010 matches up versus the E-PL3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FE-5010 E-PL3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus FE-5010

 E-PL3 FE-5010 
IntroducedSeptember 2011January 2009Newer by 32 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL3

 FE-5010 E-PL3 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-5010 provides physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-5010 versus Olympus E-PL3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the FE-5010 compared to the E-PL3.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5010 and E-PL3 is 96 and 88 respectively.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The picture here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5010 and E-PL3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The FE-5010 features the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher. The more aged FE-5010 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
20
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (130 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
60
lighter than competitors in class (130g)
weather proof
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
44
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus FE-5010
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (130g)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus FE-5010Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus FE-5010 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-07 2011-09-20
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Truepic VI
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 35
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 36-180mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 130g (0.29 lbs) 313g (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 52
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 499
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $130 $399