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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 9 months after the FH5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the FH5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-PL3 FH5 
ReleasedSeptember 2011January 2011Newer by 9 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FH5 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH5

 E-PL3 FH5 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic FH5 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 vs the FH5.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FH5 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The pic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and FH5.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH5 will show more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH5
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Panasonic FH5 Street photography information
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than others (121g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography features
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
44
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than others (121 grams)
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH5
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
38
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging info
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
33
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others (121 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max 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 grams (0.69 lb) 121 grams (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 260 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $399 $169