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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic TS3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Older Model is Panasonic TS2
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS4
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 Overview

Here is a extended overview of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the TS3 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TS3 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 2 months later than the TS3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL3 grades against the TS3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic TS3

 E-PL3 TS3 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TS3 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS3

 E-PL3 TS3 
ReleasedSeptember 2011August 2011Similar age
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 has outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS3 has proportions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the TS3.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and TS3 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph below will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and TS3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL3 has got the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF less difficult.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic TS3 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic TS3 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic TS3 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery pack (310 CIPA)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic TS3 Travel photography factors
44
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
63
great battery pack (310 CIPA)
environment proof
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic TS3 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery life (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
38
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
great battery pack (310 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Panasonic TS3
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing external mic jack
31
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS3
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FT3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2011-09-20 2011-08-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
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 rate 6.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash settings 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 synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 197 gr (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 310 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $399 $380