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Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
79
Features
62
Overall
72

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Revealed September 2018
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL3 versus Zeiss ZX1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Zeiss. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ZX1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 8 years before the ZX1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL3 scores versus the ZX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Zeiss ZX1

 E-PL3 ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ZX1 E-PL3 
RevealedSeptember 2018September 2011Newer by 85 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimensions4.34"3"Larger display (+1.34")
Display resolution2765k460kCrisper display (+2305k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Zeiss ZX1

 E-PL3 ZX1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 provides physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Zeiss ZX1 has specifications of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 versus Zeiss ZX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the ZX1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and ZX1 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by researching specs. The pic below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and ZX1.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Zeiss ZX1 will result in more detail having its extra 25 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
87
manual focus
excellent MP (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Zeiss ZX1 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
71
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
good ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (800 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
Zeiss ZX1 Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
64
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
excellent MP (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Travel photography camera
44
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
65
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
excellent MP (37 megapixels)
good max aperture (f2)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (800g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Zeiss ZX1 Landscape photography highlights
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
70
manual focus
good max aperture (f2)
bigger than average screen (4.34 inches)
excellent MP (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging highlights
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of microphone support
31
good max aperture (f2)
has touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (800 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Zeiss ZX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Zeiss ZX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Zeiss
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Zeiss ZX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-09-20 2018-09-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 37MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 7488 x 4992
Max native ISO 12800 51200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 255
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2-22
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 4.34 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 2,765 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC 512GB internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $399 -