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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS22
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and FH7 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FH7 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was released within a month of the FH7 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL3 matches up against the FH7 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FH7

 E-PL3 FH7 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FH7 E-PL3 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH7

 E-PL3 FH7 
IntroducedSeptember 2011September 2011Same age
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 has physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH7 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the FH7.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FH7 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The pic here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and FH7.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FH7 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic FH7
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (126g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Panasonic FH7
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH7 Travel photography highlights
44
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH7
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
43
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FH7 Vlogging highlights
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
34
rather wide (28mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (126g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH7
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS22
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-09-20 2011-09-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 313 gr (0.69 lb) 126 gr (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $399 $149