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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FS25
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 148g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FS25

 E-PL3 FS25 
RevealedSeptember 2011January 2009Fresher by 33 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS25 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FS25 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS25

 E-PL3 FS25 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS25
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
26
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS25 as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Panasonic FS25 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS25 Travel photography factors
44
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS25 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
32
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS25 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS25
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2009-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI -
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 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 lb) 148g (0.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $399 $230