Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS30

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and TS30 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TS30 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The E-PL3 was released 4 years prior to the TS30 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PL3 grades versus the TS30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic TS30 Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic TS30 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the TS30.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and TS30 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Often, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The pic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and TS30.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic TS30 will render more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.