Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS25, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FS25 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FS25 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was released 2 years later than the FS25 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS25 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL3 scores against the FS25 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Panasonic FS25 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 features 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) while the Panasonic FS25 has sizing of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS25 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 vs the FS25.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FS25 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and FS25.

Clearly, both cameras have the same resolution but different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 includes the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult. The newer E-PL3 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.