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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Superseded the Panasonic TS3
  • Later Model is Panasonic TS5
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

The following is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic TS4, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the TS4 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TS4 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 4 months earlier than the TS4 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PL3 grades versus the TS4 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic TS4

 E-PL3 TS4 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TS4 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS4

 E-PL3 TS4 
LaunchedSeptember 2011January 2012Similar age
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 has 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 TS4 has dimensions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic TS4 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL3 against the TS4.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and TS4 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specs. The picture here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and TS4.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 has got the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
21
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Panasonic TS4 Street photography information
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Panasonic TS4
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
good battery life (310 per charge)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Panasonic TS4 Travel photography features
44
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
66
good battery life (310 per charge)
weather proof
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS4
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
41
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
good battery life (310 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
32
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2011-09-20 2012-01-31
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 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
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 197 grams (0.43 lb)
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 images 310 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $399 $399