Olympus E-PL3 vs Nikon J1

Olympus E-PL3 advantages over Nikon J1

• Lens selection
  Excellent vs Limited
  Better lens selection gives you more options
• Larger sensor
  4/3 vs 1 inch
  More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
• In-Camera Image Stabilization
  Yes vs No
  Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
• Bigger pixels
  ~ 4.29 vs 3.41 microns
  Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
• Tiltable Screen
  Tiltable vs Fixed
  Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
• Higher effective ISO

  Higher effective ISO

  Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

  Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

  You can learn more at our glossary entry.

  Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  E-PL3 test data on DxO Mark J1 test data on DxO Mark
  499 vs 372 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• Longer stills battery life
  More info

  Longer stills battery life

  Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

  Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

  300 vs 230 shots
  Capture more photos
• Higher max flash sync
  1/160 vs 1/60 sec
  Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
• Hot shoe
  Hot shoe vs None
  Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
• More pixels
  12.3 vs 10.1 megapixels
  Higher resolution photos
• Longer exposure
  60 vs 30 sec
  Long exposures for night shots
• Higher extended ISO
  12800 vs 6400 ISO
  Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility