Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS3

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was launched 8 years later than the ZS3 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL9 grades vs the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Panasonic ZS3 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 provides outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL9 vs the ZS3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and ZS3 is 85 and 91 respectively.

In many cases, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and ZS3.

Clearly, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will show extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.