Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung CL5

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung CL5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Samsung. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and CL5 (9MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and CL5 (1/2.5") use totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-P3 was introduced 2 years after the CL5 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung CL5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-P3 grades versus the CL5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-P3 & Samsung CL5. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P3 Gallery & Samsung CL5 Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 features external dimensions 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 Samsung CL5 has dimensions of 93mm x 60mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung CL5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P3 compared to the CL5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and CL5 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by researching specifications. The picture underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and CL5.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-P3 will render extra detail using its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-P3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.