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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Samsung TL500 front
Portability
88
Imaging
34
Features
54
Overall
42

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Samsung TL500
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-72mm (F1.8-2.4) lens
  • 386g - 114 x 63 x 29mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Additionally Known as EX1
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung TL500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the TL500 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TL500 (1/1.7") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was announced 14 months later than the TL500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung TL500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-P3 scores against the TL500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Samsung TL500

 E-P3 TL500 
IntroducedAugust 2011July 2010More recent by 14 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung TL500 over the Olympus E-P3

 TL500 E-P3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung TL500

 E-P3 TL500 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution614k614kExact same display resolution

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 features physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Samsung TL500 has dimensions of 114mm x 63mm x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 386 grams (0.85 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 and Samsung TL500 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 vary based on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 against the TL500.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and TL500 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and TL500.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 using its larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-P3 will give extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher E-P3 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung TL500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
40
focusing manually
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Samsung TL500
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
screen does not articulate
66
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (386g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
Samsung TL500 Sports photography highlights
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
Samsung TL500 Travel photography information
60
provides touch focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
64
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (386g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography details
Samsung TL500 Landscape photography details
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
52
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung TL500 as a Vlogging camera
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic port
64
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (386 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Samsung TL500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Samsung TL500
 Olympus PEN E-P3Samsung TL500
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Samsung TL500
Other name - EX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-08-17 2010-07-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-72mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 614k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow syncro, Manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 pounds) 386g (0.85 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 114 x 63 x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 40
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 19.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.1
DXO Low light score 536 129
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 SLB-07A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC, internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $527