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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS70
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic ZS80, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and ZS80 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ZS80 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 7 years prior to the ZS80 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL3 scores vs the ZS80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic ZS80

 E-PL3 ZS80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ZS80 E-PL3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018September 2011Newer by 78 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS80

 E-PL3 ZS80 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior 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) and the Panasonic ZS80 has dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") along with a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic ZS80 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the ZS80.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and ZS80 is 88 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and ZS80.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS80 will resolve greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
54
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS80
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
75
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS80 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
61
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (380 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS80
44
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
79
great battery (380 per charge)
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS80 Landscape photography factors
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
no Timelapse recording
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
saves RAW formats
great battery (380 shots)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS80
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone socket
73
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS80
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Alternate name - Lumix DC-TZ95
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-20 2018-02-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
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 - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,330 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 327 gr (0.72 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
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 shots 380 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $399 $448