Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FP3

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL9 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery and Panasonic FP3 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.