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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Released September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL7 was launched 5 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL7 grades versus the ZS3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-PL7 ZS3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014May 2009More modern by 65 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-PL7

 ZS3 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-PL7 ZS3 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 offers outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL7 versus the ZS3.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and ZS3 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out specs. The pic below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and ZS3.

All in all, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL7 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL7 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher E-PL7 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography info
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography features
85
offers focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
selfie friendly display
63
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
35
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no microphone socket
30
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-09-01 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
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 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 357g (0.79 lb) 229g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $499 $200