Clicky

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus VG-145 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus VG-145, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the VG-145 (14MP) is pretty close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and VG-145 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-PL3 was manufactured 2 months after the VG-145 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL3 scores versus the VG-145 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus VG-145

 E-PL3 VG-145 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Olympus E-PL3

 VG-145 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus VG-145

 E-PL3 VG-145 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2011Same age
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 features external 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 VG-145 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Olympus VG-145 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL3 against the VG-145.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and VG-145 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and VG-145.

Clearly, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus VG-145 will result in extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
Olympus VG-145 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VG-145 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VG-145 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect AF
26
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (160 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Olympus VG-145 Travel photography factors
44
no Timelapse mode
low battery power (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Olympus VG-145
61
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
36
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery pack (160 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Olympus VG-145 Vlogging details
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
28
rather wide (26mm)
offers face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VG-145 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus VG-145
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus VG-145
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus VG-145
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2011-09-20 2011-07-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 120 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 160 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $399 $0