Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus SP-820UZ, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was manufactured 11 months before the SP-820UZ and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL3 grades vs the SP-820UZ in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Olympus SP-820UZ Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outer 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-820UZ has specifications of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus SP-820UZ in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the SP-820UZ.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and SP-820UZ is 88 and 69 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The visual here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and SP-820UZ.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SP-820UZ will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.