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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FP5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FP5 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FP5 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was introduced 9 months later than the FP5 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL3 scores against the FP5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FP5

 E-PL3 FP5 
IntroducedSeptember 2011January 2011Fresher by 9 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FP5 E-PL3 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FP5

 E-PL3 FP5 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with exterior measurements 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 FP5 has specifications of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FP5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 vs the FP5.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FP5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and FP5.

All in all, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 having a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FP5 will show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL3 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FP5 Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography details
Panasonic FP5 Street photography details
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FP5 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (260 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Panasonic FP5 Travel photography features
44
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
great battery life (260 shots)
includes focus by touch
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FP5 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
40
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
great battery life (260 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Panasonic FP5 Vlogging info
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic support
30
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FP5
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.90 m
Flash options 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 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 141g (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $399 $199