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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
82
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 120 x 83 x 47mm
  • Announced August 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M10
  • New Model is Olympus E-M10 III
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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both built by Olympus. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M10 II (16MP) and E-PL3 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-M10 II was introduced 3 years later than the E-PL3 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-M10 II grades against the E-PL3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 II over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-M10 II E-PL3 
LaunchedAugust 2015September 2011Fresher by 48 months
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-M10 II

 E-PL3 E-M10 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-PL3

 E-M10 II E-PL3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M10 II has got physical measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") having a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL3 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M10 II 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 differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M10 II against the E-PL3.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 II and E-PL3 is 82 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 II and E-PL3.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus E-M10 II to offer you more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M10 II should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
72
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Street photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
83
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
73
features touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
44
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 II
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IIOlympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Olympus PEN E-PL3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-08-25 2011-09-20
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII 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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, flash off, 1st-curtain slow sync w/redeye, 1st-curtain slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/30p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 390g (0.86 lb) 313g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 52
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 20.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 10.3
DXO Low light score 842 499
Other
Battery life 320 images 300 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $499 $399