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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax RS1500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 7 months later than the RS1500 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL3 grades versus the RS1500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax RS1500

 E-PL3 RS1500 
ReleasedSeptember 2011March 2011Fresher by 7 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-PL3

 RS1500 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax RS1500

 E-PL3 RS1500 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 provides external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 and the RS1500.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and RS1500 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The graphic underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and RS1500.

To sum up, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RS1500 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL3 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
35
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
54
environment proof
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
37
MP count decent (14MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography info
44
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
67
environment proof
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
40
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have mic support
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-09-20 2011-03-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 157 grams (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" 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 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $399 $150