Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ2500

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ2500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and FZ2500 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FZ2500 (1") boast totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was introduced 6 years before the FZ2500 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ2500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL3 matches up against the FZ2500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Panasonic FZ2500 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 has exterior 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) while the Panasonic FZ2500 has dimensions of 138mm x 102mm x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") with a weight of 915 grams (2.02 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ2500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 and the FZ2500.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FZ2500 is 88 and 53 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The image underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and FZ2500.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FZ2500 will provide extra detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.