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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic ZR3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is very similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was released 13 months after the ZR3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL2 grades against the ZR3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-PL2 ZR3 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2010More modern by 13 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-PL2

 ZR3 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-PL2 ZR3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 features external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic ZR3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 against the ZR3.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and ZR3 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The picture underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and ZR3.

All in all, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZR3 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer E-PL2 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography info
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery life (280 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery life (280 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
64
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography details
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (280 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
37
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
29
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2010-01-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine HD II
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
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)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 114 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 All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $0 $280