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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 5 years earlier than the ZS100 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL3 grades versus the ZS100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-PL3 ZS100 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ZS100 E-PL3 
LaunchedJanuary 2016September 2011Fresher by 52 months
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-PL3 ZS100 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS100 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 against the ZS100.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and ZS100 is 88 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The photograph here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and ZS100.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS100 will show greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
64
you can focus manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
78
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (312 grams)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography information
44
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (300 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
75
lighter than competition in class (312 grams)
provides focus by touch
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography advice
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
68
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging highlights
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (312 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-09-20 2016-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 9.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 lb) 312g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 70
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.5
DXO Low light rating 499 559
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 300 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $399 $700