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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio P80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched August 2009
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax P80, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the P80 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 2 years later than the P80 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL3 grades versus the P80 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax P80

 E-PL3 P80 
LaunchedSeptember 2011August 2009More recent by 26 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Olympus E-PL3

 P80 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax P80

 E-PL3 P80 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Pentax P80 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax P80 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL3 against the P80.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and P80 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The graphic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and P80.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have the same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 offers the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The more recent E-PL3 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
Pentax P80 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual control
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Pentax P80
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
55
lighter than others (125g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Pentax P80 Travel photography info
44
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
62
lighter than others (125 grams)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax P80 Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery life (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
32
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Pentax P80 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
28
rather wide (28mm)
lighter than others (125 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax P80
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio P80
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio P80
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2009-08-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Max aperture - f/2.6-5.8
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 125 gr (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $399 $200