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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2012
Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is mju Tough 3000
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus Tough-3000, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and Tough-3000 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and Tough-3000 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was revealed 2 years later than the Tough-3000 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the Tough-3000 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 E-PL5 Tough-3000 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012January 2010Fresher by 33 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Olympus E-PL5

 Tough-3000 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus Tough-3000

 E-PL5 Tough-3000 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 offers exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus Tough-3000 has sizing of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus Tough-3000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the Tough-3000.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and Tough-3000 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and Tough-3000.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will offer you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots more aggressively. The more modern E-PL5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography factors
Olympus Tough-3000 Portrait photography factors
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
21
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography advice
Olympus Tough-3000 Street photography advice
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
36
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography information
75
includes focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse function
61
environment proofing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus Tough-3000 Landscape photography highlights
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
missing Timelapse function
35
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus Tough-3000 Vlogging highlights
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing external microphone port
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus Tough-3000
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
Also called as - mju Tough 3000
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2012-09-17 2010-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.1
Macro focus range - 2cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $400 $0