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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic ZR3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 4 months after the ZR3 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL1 scores against the ZR3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-PL1 ZR3 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 ZR3 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-PL1 ZR3 
AnnouncedMay 2010January 2010Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic ZR3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 against the ZR3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and ZR3 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and ZR3.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 having a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZR3 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography information
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (290 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
64
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
29
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-05-17 2010-01-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
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 gr (0.74 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $288 $280