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Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11

Portability
88
Imaging
47
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Samsung NX11 front
Portability
80
Imaging
54
Features
50
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Samsung NX11
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX10
  • Newer Model is Samsung NX20
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL3 and Samsung NX11, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the NX11 (15MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and NX11 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was launched 9 months later than the NX11 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX11 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PL3 scores vs the NX11 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Samsung NX11

 E-PL3 NX11 
RevealedSeptember 2011December 2010More recent by 9 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Samsung NX11 over the Olympus E-PL3

 NX11 E-PL3 
Screen resolution614k460kClearer screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Samsung NX11

 E-PL3 NX11 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 has got exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Samsung NX11 has proportions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 and Samsung NX11 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 and the NX11.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and NX11 is 88 and 80 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements only by checking out specifications. The graphic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and NX11.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX11 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent E-PL3 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
Samsung NX11 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX11 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
Samsung NX11 Sports photography factors
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
52
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Samsung NX11 Travel photography highlights
44
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
62
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (499 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Samsung NX11 Landscape photography highlights
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
68
manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (400 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX11 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no microphone port
24
includes face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (499 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Samsung NX11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Samsung NX11
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Samsung NX11
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Samsung NX11
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-20 2010-12-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI DRIM Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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 15
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 11.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 123 x 87 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 63
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.8
DXO Low light rating 499 553
Other
Battery life 300 photos 400 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Launch price $399 $626