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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 10 months earlier than the ZS15 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-P3 grades vs the ZS15 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-P3 ZS15 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display resolution614k460kSharper display (+154k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-P3

 ZS15 E-P3 
LaunchedJune 2012August 2011More modern by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-P3 ZS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 has outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 vs the ZS15.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and ZS15 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to see the gap in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and ZS15.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The E-P3 includes the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier. The more aged E-P3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography factors
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
no articulating screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (208 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography information
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
60
provides focus by touch
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
61
lighter than average (208 grams)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (260 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
37
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (260 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (208 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-08-17 2012-06-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lbs) 208 gr (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 260 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $279