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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic S3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL7 was unveiled 3 years later than the S3 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL7 matches up against the S3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic S3

 E-PL7 S3 
ReleasedSeptember 2014January 2011Fresher by 45 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-PL7

 S3 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic S3

 E-PL7 S3 

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 features physical dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic S3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL7 vs the S3.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and S3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and S3.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL7 will deliver greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots more aggressively. The younger E-PL7 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography info
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Panasonic S3
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Sports photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
85
provides touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (117 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography details
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography details
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
38
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
78
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing external mic socket
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-09-01 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 117 grams (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 250 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $499 $110