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Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

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

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Revealed August 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M10 II
  • Updated by Olympus E-M10 IV
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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-M10 III and Olympus E-PL3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-M10 III (16MP) and E-PL3 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M10 III was revealed 6 years later than the E-PL3 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M10 III matches up versus the E-PL3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M10 III E-PL3 
IntroducedAugust 2017September 2011More recent by 73 months
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 E-PL3 E-M10 III 

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

 E-M10 III E-PL3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

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

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 III offers exterior measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL3 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M10 III and Olympus E-PL3 in the all 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 choose during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M10 III versus the E-PL3.

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

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 III and E-PL3 is 80 and 88 respectively.

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

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

More often than not, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The visual below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 III and E-PL3.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M10 III to show greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The newer E-M10 III provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Portrait photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography advice
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competitors in class (410 grams)
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect AF
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
67
offers touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
heavier than competitors in class (410 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography factors
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 III
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
32
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (410g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIOlympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Olympus PEN E-PL3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2017-08-31 2011-09-20
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Truepic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 121 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 410g (0.90 lb) 313g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 52
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 499
Other
Battery life 330 shots 300 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $650 $399