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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL5 scores vs the ZS3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-PL5 ZS3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012May 2009More modern by 41 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-PL5

 ZS3 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-PL5 ZS3 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 features outer dimensions 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 Panasonic ZS3 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 versus the ZS3.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and ZS3 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and ZS3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL5 will produce greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
75
supports focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
63
lighter than competition (229g)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse mode
35
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic port
30
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2009-05-14
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 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
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 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 229 gr (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $400 $200