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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus SP-800 UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
36
Features
35
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus SP-800 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Bump to 1000)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-840mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Introduced February 2010
  • Updated by Olympus SP-810 UZ
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the SP-800 UZ (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 20 months after the SP-800 UZ making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL3 grades vs the SP-800 UZ with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus SP-800 UZ

 E-PL3 SP-800 UZ 
IntroducedSeptember 2011February 2010More modern by 20 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-800 UZ over the Olympus E-PL3

 SP-800 UZ E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SP-800 UZ

 E-PL3 SP-800 UZ 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 features outside 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) and the Olympus SP-800 UZ has specifications of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") having a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 versus the SP-800 UZ.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and SP-800 UZ is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The picture here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and SP-800 UZ.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus SP-800 UZ will give you more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Olympus SP-800 UZ Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Olympus SP-800 UZ
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
46
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
Olympus SP-800 UZ Sports photography features
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
46
excellent zoom range (28-840mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Olympus SP-800 UZ Travel photography features
44
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
61
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
long reach (840mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
41
rather wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Olympus SP-800 UZ Vlogging information
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
24
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SP-800 UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus SP-800 UZ
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus SP-800 UZ
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-20 2010-02-02
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 1000
Lowest native ISO 200 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 143
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-840mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 12 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 lbs) 455g (1.00 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6")
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 format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $399 $270