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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic TS2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 188g - 99 x 63 x 24mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT2
  • Superseded the Panasonic TS1
  • Later Model is Panasonic TS3
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the TS2 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TS2 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was announced 21 months after the TS2 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-PL3 scores versus the TS2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic TS2

 E-PL3 TS2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2010More modern by 21 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TS2 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS2

 E-PL3 TS2 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic TS2 has measurements of 99mm x 63mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") having a weight of 188 grams (0.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 against the TS2.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and TS2 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The image below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and TS2.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic TS2 will give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The fresher E-PL3 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic TS2 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Panasonic TS2 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
Panasonic TS2 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Panasonic TS2
44
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
67
environment sealing
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic TS2 Landscape photography highlights
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
40
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Panasonic TS2 Vlogging details
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS2
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2011-09-20 2010-01-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 lbs) 188g (0.41 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 99 x 63 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $399 $350