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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS25
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 193g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ35
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS20
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS30
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and ZS25 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ZS25 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 15 months earlier than the ZS25 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS25 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the ZS25 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic ZS25

 E-PL3 ZS25 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS25 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ZS25 E-PL3 
RevealedJanuary 2013September 2011Fresher by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS25

 E-PL3 ZS25 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior 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) while the Panasonic ZS25 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 and the ZS25.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and ZS25 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The visual below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and ZS25.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS25 will provide more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-PL3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS25 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
32
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS25 Street photography features
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than others (193g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS25 Sports photography details
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
45
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS25 Travel photography information
44
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than others (193g)
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS25 Landscape photography info
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
43
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS25 Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
34
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (193g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic ZS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic ZS25
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ35
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-09-20 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 lb) 193g (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery 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
Launch pricing $399 $300