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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic TS5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 110 x 67 x 29mm
  • Revealed July 2013
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT5
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS4
  • Successor is Panasonic TS6
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic TS5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and TS5 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and TS5 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was launched 22 months before the TS5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL3 grades against the TS5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic TS5

 E-PL3 TS5 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS5 over the Olympus E-PL3

 TS5 E-PL3 
RevealedJuly 2013September 2011More recent by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS5

 E-PL3 TS5 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS5 has sizing of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic TS5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 versus the TS5.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and TS5 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and TS5.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic TS5 will give extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic TS5 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
32
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Panasonic TS5 Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery life (370 per charge)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Panasonic TS5 Travel photography features
44
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
72
great battery life (370 CIPA)
weather proofing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS5
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
52
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
weather proofing
great battery life (370 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Panasonic TS5 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
32
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic TS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic TS5
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FT5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2011-09-20 2013-07-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology 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 rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
Fastest flash synchronize 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 data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 214 grams (0.47 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 110 x 67 x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 photos 370 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 DMW-BCM13
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
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $399 $350