• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

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Differences

Olympus E-PL1 advantages over Canon EOS M3

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.29 vs 3.72 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Olympus E-PL1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,169 vs 487 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    11.8 vs 10.1 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    9 years vs 15 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.95 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.2 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Canon EOS M3

Review Excerpt

  • DSLR image quality & resolution in a mirrorless body; Higher-res 24MP APS-C sensor; Much improved AF performance; Better ergonomics with full PASM dial; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC; Tilting LCD.

  • No built-in EVF; Limited native lens selection; Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; No 60p video frame rate or 4K video option.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-P2

Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-P2
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash
  • $1100
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Faster shutter
Canon EOS M3
Olympus E-P2
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1100
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Olympus E-PL2

Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-PL2
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
Canon EOS M3
Olympus E-PL2
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-P3
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
Canon EOS M3
Olympus E-P3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Olympus E-PL1
Samsung NX3000
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $950
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-camera panoramas
Canon EOS M3
Samsung NX3000
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $950
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Olympus E-PL1
Fujifilm X-E3
  • $392
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Canon EOS M3
Fujifilm X-E3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • NFC
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
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