Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic 3D1

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic 3D1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and 3D1 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and 3D1 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was unveiled 11 months after the 3D1 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PL5 grades vs the 3D1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Panasonic 3D1 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 provides external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic 3D1 has dimensions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic 3D1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 against the 3D1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and 3D1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Generally, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and 3D1.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will resolve more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.