Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ100

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ100, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FZ100 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was revealed 15 months later than the FZ100 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL3 matches up versus the FZ100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic FZ100 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ100 has proportions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL3 versus the FZ100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and FZ100 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The graphic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and FZ100.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 having a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FZ100 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.