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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 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
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced November 2008
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LX5
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic LX3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the LX3 (10MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and LX3 (1/1.63") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was launched 19 months after the LX3 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1 grades versus the LX3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic LX3

 E-PL1 LX3 
AnnouncedMay 2010November 2008More modern by 19 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 LX3 E-PL1 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic LX3

 E-PL1 LX3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic LX3 has proportions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic LX3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 and the LX3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and LX3 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specs. The pic underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and LX3.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL1 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-PL1 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
40
manual focus
exports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Panasonic LX3 Street photography factors
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than others (265 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LX3 Sports photography advice
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (290 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic LX3 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low battery life (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (265g)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic LX3
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery life (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
52
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging features
Panasonic LX3 Vlogging features
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
30
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than others (265g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LX3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic LX3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-05-17 2008-11-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-60mm (2.5x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-2.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 8.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 265 grams (0.58 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 39
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.8
DXO Low light score 487 94
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $288 $449