Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR3

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic ZR3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1s was released 10 months after the ZR3 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PL1s matches up against the ZR3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL1s and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1s Gallery and Panasonic ZR3 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR3 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL1s and the ZR3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and ZR3 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and ZR3.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZR3 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL1s should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.