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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FS7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 139g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FS7 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FS7 (1/2.5") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 2 years later than the FS7 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the FS7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FS7

 E-PL3 FS7 
IntroducedSeptember 2011January 2009More recent by 33 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS7 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FS7 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS7

 E-PL3 FS7 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic FS7 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 139 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 against the FS7.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and FS7 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through specs. The graphic underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and FS7.

All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL3 will give more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern E-PL3 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS7 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FS7 Street photography highlights
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Panasonic FS7
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
no phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FS7 Travel photography information
44
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS7 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
low resolution (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FS7 Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FS7
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-09-20 2009-01-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 139g (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 style 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 Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $160