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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Announced June 2013
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SZ-15, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 21 months earlier than the SZ-15 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL3 grades against the SZ-15 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL3 SZ-15 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-PL3

 SZ-15 E-PL3 
AnnouncedJune 2013September 2011Fresher by 21 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL3 SZ-15 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 has got physical 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) and the Olympus SZ-15 has proportions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SZ-15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 versus the SZ-15.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and SZ-15 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and SZ-15.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus SZ-15 will render more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography factors
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
44
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than others in class (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography details
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
pretty wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (250g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus SZ-15
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-20 2013-06-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias 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 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest 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) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 250 grams (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $399 $200