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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 19 months after the ZS3 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PL1s matches up against the ZS3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-PL1s ZS3 
ReleasedNovember 2010May 2009More modern by 19 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZS3 E-PL1s 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS3

 E-PL1s ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys outer measurements 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 ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1s vs the ZS3.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and ZS3 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The image below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and ZS3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s featuring a larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL1s will provide greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1s is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
52
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery life (290 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography information
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
35
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
30
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-11-16 2009-05-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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 data format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic support
Headphone support
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 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $599 $200