Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH2

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FH2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 9 months later than the FH2 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL3 matches up against the FH2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Panasonic FH2 Gallery.

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 has got physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic FH2 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FH2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 vs the FH2.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and FH2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The visual below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and FH2.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic FH2 will produce greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger E-PL3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.