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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FH3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FH3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was launched 21 months after the FH3 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PL3 matches up against the FH3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FH3

 E-PL3 FH3 
RevealedSeptember 2011January 2010More modern by 21 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FH3 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH3

 E-PL3 FH3 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys outside 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 FH3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FH3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the FH3.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and FH3 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The image below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and FH3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FH3 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PL3 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Panasonic FH3
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FH3 Travel photography information
44
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
64
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography advice
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
37
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
29
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH3
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS11
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-09-20 2010-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 165 grams (0.36 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $160