Olympus PEN Lite
E-PL3
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL1

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

54

  
Olympus PEN E-PL1

41

  

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus E-PL3
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Focus points More focus points 35 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Size Smaller 109x63x37 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 300 shots vs 290 shots
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 2100 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Weight Slightly lighter 313 g vs 334 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PL3

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 54.0 vs 52.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $270.00 vs $399.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $129 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
54 vs 41
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
E-PL3:12,800 ISO
PEN E-PL1:None
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
E-PL3:1,600 ISO
PEN E-PL1:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
E-PL3:10.3 EV
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
E-PL3:300 shots
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
E-PL3:2100 ms
PEN E-PL1:2200 ms
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
E-PL3:52.0
PEN E-PL1:54.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
E-PL3:499 ISO
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Captures 3D images
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$767 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3.

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1

appearance

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL1

discussion

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