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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Replacement is OM System OM-5
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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and E-PL3 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 III was unveiled 8 years later than the E-PL3 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M5 III matches up against the E-PL3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-M5 III E-PL3 
LaunchedOctober 2019September 2011More recent by 99 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 E-PL3 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL3

 E-M5 III E-PL3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys outside dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the E-PL3.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and E-PL3 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The photograph below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and E-PL3.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus E-M5 III to show extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
77
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
83
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography information
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (30.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (310 per charge)
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
77
weather proof
has bluetooth
boasts touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery (310 shots)
44
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery life (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery (310 per charge)
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
84
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus PEN E-PL3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2019-10-17 2011-09-20
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Truepic VI
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 121 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display 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 0.68x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 30.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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 414 gr (0.91 lbs) 313 gr (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 310 shots 300 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $1,199 $399