Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic L1

Here is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic L1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and L1 (7MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The E-PL3 was announced 4 years later than the L1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL3 grades vs the L1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic L1 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys 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) and the Panasonic L1 has measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") and a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic L1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL3 against the L1.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and L1 is 88 and 65 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The visual below may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and L1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PL3 to render more detail with its extra 5MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-PL3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.