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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was revealed 9 months prior to the ZS15 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL3 grades vs the ZS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL3 ZS15 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ZS15 E-PL3 
IntroducedJune 2012September 2011Fresher by 9 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL3 ZS15 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 has got external dimensions 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 ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL3 and the ZS15.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and ZS15 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and ZS15.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL3 offers the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field easier. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
21
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography features
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography details
44
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
61
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery life (260 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography advice
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
37
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-09-20 2012-06-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 313 gr (0.69 lb) 208 gr (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 $279