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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FX78, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FX78 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 8 months after the FX78 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the FX78 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FX78

 E-PL3 FX78 
ReleasedSeptember 2011January 2011More modern by 8 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FX78 E-PL3 
Display dimension3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FX78

 E-PL3 FX78 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 offers outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic FX78 has proportions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic FX78 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 versus the FX78.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and FX78 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The pic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and FX78.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 has got the larger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern E-PL3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
21
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Street photography highlights
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography features
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400 seconds)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Travel photography camera
44
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
56
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (200 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography features
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
36
decently wide (24mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (200 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
33
decently wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FX77
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-09-20 2011-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3.5"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1400 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 142 grams (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 photographs 200 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $399 $210