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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Released January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FP3 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was launched 8 years after the FP3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL9 matches up against the FP3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FP3

 E-PL9 FP3 
ReleasedFebruary 2018January 2010Newer by 99 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FP3 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FP3

 E-PL9 FP3 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has outside dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic FP3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL9 and the FP3.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and FP3 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specifications. The pic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and FP3.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography factors
73
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography factors
Panasonic FP3 Street photography factors
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features touch focus
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus via touch
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competitors (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
Panasonic FP3 Sports photography information
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography details
Panasonic FP3 Travel photography details
77
supports bluetooth
features touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly screen
60
includes focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (155 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic FP3
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
37
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic FP3
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
27
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (155 grams)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FP3
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2018-02-08 2010-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.90 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 155g (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $599 $182