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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 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 FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed August 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FX90 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FX90 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured within a month of the FX90 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX90 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PL3 grades vs the FX90 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FX90

 E-PL3 FX90 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FX90 E-PL3 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FX90

 E-PL3 FX90 
RevealedSeptember 2011August 2011Similar age
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 offers 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) while the Panasonic FX90 has sizing of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 and the FX90.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and FX90 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking technical specs. The visual below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and FX90.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL3 provides the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF less difficult.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FX90
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Panasonic FX90 Street photography information
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus via touch
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FX90 Sports photography features
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FX90 Travel photography advice
44
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
includes focus via touch
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery life (200 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FX90 Landscape photography details
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
36
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery life (200 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Panasonic FX90
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
33
really wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FX90
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-08-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.90 m
Flash options 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 313 gr (0.69 lb) 149 gr (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" 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 images 200 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $399 $227