Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-310

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-310, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the TG-310 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TG-310 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 9 months after the TG-310 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL3 grades against the TG-310 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Olympus TG-310. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Olympus TG-310 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-310 has dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-310 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 versus the TG-310.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and TG-310 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and TG-310.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus TG-310 will give extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PL3 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.