Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LX3

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LX3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the LX3 (10MP) is very similar but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and LX3 (1/1.63") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 2 years after the LX3 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the LX3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Panasonic LX3 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 offers outside 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) whilst the Panasonic LX3 has proportions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LX3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 and the LX3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and LX3 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to see the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The image underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and LX3.

As you can tell, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL3 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.