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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic FH3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FH3 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was introduced 2 years after the FH3 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL5 grades vs the FH3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FH3

 E-PL5 FH3 
LaunchedSeptember 2012January 2010More modern by 33 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FH3 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH3

 E-PL5 FH3 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 features 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) while the Panasonic FH3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic FH3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 versus the FH3.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and FH3 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and FH3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 having a larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL5 will show greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern E-PL5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH3
71
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic FH3
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic FH3
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH3 Travel photography highlights
75
comes with touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
64
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH3 Landscape photography advice
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse function
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH3 Vlogging advice
78
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH3
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS11
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-09-17 2010-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 165g (0.36 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $160