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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus TG-320 front
Portability
94
Imaging
38
Features
33
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus TG-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus TG-320, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and both are offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the TG-320 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TG-320 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 3 months earlier than the TG-320 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-320 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the TG-320 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus TG-320

 E-PL3 TG-320 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-320 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TG-320 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-320

 E-PL3 TG-320 
LaunchedSeptember 2011January 2012Same age
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Olympus TG-320 has measurements of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus TG-320 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 against the TG-320.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and TG-320 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out technical specs. The pic here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and TG-320.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus TG-320 will produce greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-320 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
34
good MP (14 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-320 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (155g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
Olympus TG-320 Sports photography factors
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proof
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (150 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-320 Travel photography information
44
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (155g)
environment proof
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (150 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-320 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
39
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
environment proof
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery pack (150 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-320 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
32
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (155 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus TG-320 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus TG-320
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus TG-320
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus TG-320
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2011-09-20 2012-01-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.1
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.80 m
Flash settings 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 1/160s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 grams (0.69 lbs) 155 grams (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9")
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 images 150 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $399 $0