Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FP7

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FP7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and FP7 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FP7 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 9 months later than the FP7 and 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 FP7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL3 scores vs the FP7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Panasonic FP7 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 has outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic FP7 has proportions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FP7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL3 against the FP7.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FP7 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out technical specs. The graphic here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and FP7.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FP7 will produce greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.