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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

Here is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus SZ-11, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 2 months later than the SZ-11 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PL3 matches up against the SZ-11 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus SZ-11

 E-PL3 SZ-11 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus E-PL3

 SZ-11 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SZ-11

 E-PL3 SZ-11 
LaunchedSeptember 2011July 2011Same generation
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-11 has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus SZ-11 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL3 and the SZ-11.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and SZ-11 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing specifications. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and SZ-11.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-11 will result in greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-11 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
43
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography info
44
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography features
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
40
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SZ-11
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus SZ-11
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-07-27
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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
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 - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 313 gr (0.69 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
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 pictures 200 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $399 $253