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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus SP-620 UZ front
Portability
78
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus SP-620 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 435g - 110 x 74 x 74mm
  • Released January 2012
  • Previous Model is Olympus SP-610UZ
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SP-620 UZ, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and SP-620 UZ (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and SP-620 UZ (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 3 months prior to the SP-620 UZ so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-620 UZ being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL3 scores against the SP-620 UZ with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus SP-620 UZ

 E-PL3 SP-620 UZ 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-620 UZ over the Olympus E-PL3

 SP-620 UZ E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SP-620 UZ

 E-PL3 SP-620 UZ 
ReleasedSeptember 2011January 2012Similar generation
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Olympus SP-620 UZ has specifications of 110mm x 74mm x 74mm (4.3" x 2.9" x 2.9") and a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SP-620 UZ in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the SP-620 UZ.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and SP-620 UZ is 88 and 78 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by going over specifications. The pic underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and SP-620 UZ.

To sum up, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus SP-620 UZ will deliver extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
Olympus SP-620 UZ Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
34
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Olympus SP-620 UZ Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
50
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Olympus SP-620 UZ Sports photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
48
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Olympus SP-620 UZ
44
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (525mm)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Olympus SP-620 UZ Landscape photography features
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Olympus SP-620 UZ
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
28
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-620 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SP-620 UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus SP-620 UZ
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus SP-620 UZ
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-20 2012-01-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 435 gr (0.96 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 110 x 74 x 74mm (4.3" x 2.9" x 2.9")
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 -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $399 $199