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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus VR-330 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Olympus VR-330
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus VR-320
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus VR-330, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the VR-330 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and VR-330 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 8 months later than the VR-330 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL3 scores vs the VR-330 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus VR-330

 E-PL3 VR-330 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2011Fresher by 8 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Olympus E-PL3

 VR-330 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus VR-330

 E-PL3 VR-330 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 has got outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Olympus VR-330 has measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus VR-330 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL3 against the VR-330.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and VR-330 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over technical specs. The visual below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and VR-330.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus VR-330 will offer extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Olympus VR-330
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VR-330 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (158 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VR-330 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Olympus VR-330 Travel photography info
44
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
70
lighter than competitors in class (158g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography advice
Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography advice
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging factors
Olympus VR-330 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
32
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (158 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus VR-330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus VR-330
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus VR-330
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus VR-330
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-02-08
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 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-300mm (12.5x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 313g (0.69 pounds) 158g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $399 $220