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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL7
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and E-PL6 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-P3 was introduced 3 years earlier than the E-PL6 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-P3 grades against the E-PL6 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus E-PL6

 E-P3 E-PL6 
Display resolution614k460kCrisper display (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus E-P3

 E-PL6 E-P3 
RevealedAugust 2014August 2011More recent by 36 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus E-PL6

 E-P3 E-PL6 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 has got exterior measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL6 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P3 against the E-PL6.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and E-PL6 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over specifications. The photograph here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and E-PL6.

Plainly, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL6 to offer extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL6 Street photography advice
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
fixed screen
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL6 as a Sports photography camera
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL6
60
comes with touch focus
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
86
boasts focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography highlights
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL6 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
79
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus E-PL6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus E-PL6
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus PEN E-PL6
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-PL6
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-17 2014-08-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369g (0.81 lb) 325g (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 360 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $300