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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus E-PL8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both of them are offered by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was announced 6 years before the E-PL8 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL3 grades against the E-PL8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-PL3 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-PL8 E-PL3 
LaunchedSeptember 2016September 2011More recent by 60 months
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-PL3 E-PL8 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL8 has measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus E-PL8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 vs the E-PL8.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and E-PL8 is 88 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The visual underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and E-PL8.

All in all, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus E-PL8 to offer you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL8 Street photography details
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography highlights
44
no Timelapse function
terrible battery (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
72
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging information
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-09-20 2016-09-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 pounds) 357 gr (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 Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 350 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $399 $500