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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FX580, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 2 years later than the FX580 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL3 scores versus the FX580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-PL3 FX580 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2009More recent by 33 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FX580 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FX580

 E-PL3 FX580 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FX580 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FX580 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 and the FX580.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and FX580 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and FX580.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL3 contains the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF simpler. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
26
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Panasonic FX580 Street photography information
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Panasonic FX580
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low fps (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography advice
44
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
58
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Panasonic FX580 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic support
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FX550
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2009-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $399 $499