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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and FZ70 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FZ70 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was introduced 22 months prior to the FZ70 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL3 matches up against the FZ70 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL3 FZ70 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FZ70 E-PL3 
IntroducedJuly 2013September 2011More modern by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL3 FZ70 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 has physical 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) and the Panasonic FZ70 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the FZ70.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FZ70 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The image underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and FZ70.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FZ70 will produce more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ70 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
56
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FZ70 Street photography highlights
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than average in class (606g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
55
excellent zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
great battery life (400 per charge)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ70 Travel photography highlights
44
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
55
great battery life (400 shots)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (20mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (606 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FZ70 Landscape photography info
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
54
has manual focus
pretty wide (20mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (400 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
26
pretty wide (20mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (606g)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FZ70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FZ70
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-20 2013-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 202k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 313 gr (0.69 lb) 606 gr (1.34 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 41
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 19.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.8
DXO Low light rating 499 171
Other
Battery life 300 shots 400 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $399 $300