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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and both of them are sold by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and E-PL7 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was launched 3 years prior to the E-PL7 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL3 scores vs the E-PL7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-PL7

 E-PL3 E-PL7 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-PL7 E-PL3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014September 2011More modern by 35 months
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus E-PL7

 E-PL3 E-PL7 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 has got outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL7 has sizing of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the E-PL7.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and E-PL7 is 88 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The picture below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and E-PL7.

Plainly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus E-PL7 to show extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography details
44
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
85
supports touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus E-PL7
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus PEN E-PL7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-09-20 2014-09-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 313g (0.69 pounds) 357g (0.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 72
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 499 873
Other
Battery life 300 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Price at launch $399 $499