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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was brought out 4 years after the ZR3 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL7 scores vs the ZR3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-PL7 ZR3 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2010More modern by 56 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-PL7

 ZR3 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-PL7 ZR3 

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL7 has got outside dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL7 against the ZR3.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and ZR3 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and ZR3.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL7 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL7 will offer you more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-PL7 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography highlights
85
offers focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
64
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography highlights
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
37
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have mic port
29
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-09-01 2010-01-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor 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
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $499 $280