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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus SH-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and SH-3 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SH-3 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 6 years prior to the SH-3 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the SH-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SH-3

 E-PL1 SH-3 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SH-3 E-PL1 
LaunchedFebruary 2016May 2010Fresher by 69 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-3

 E-PL1 SH-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 offers physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus SH-3 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus SH-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 against the SH-3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and SH-3 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and SH-3.

Plainly, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus SH-3 will deliver greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
44
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Olympus SH-3 Street photography information
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SH-3 Sports photography highlights
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Olympus SH-3 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (290 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
74
good battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
features focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography information
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography information
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
55
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (380 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging info
Olympus SH-3 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus Stylus SH-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-05-17 2016-02-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 271 grams (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 380 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $288 $579