Olympus E-PL7 vs Canon EOS M3

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Olympus E-PL7 vs Canon EOS M3

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-PL7 Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-PL7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-PL7.
Compare Olympus E-PL7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-PL7 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M3 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M3.
Compare Canon EOS M3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Olympus E-PL8
Compare E-PL7 vs E-PL8

Succeeded by the Canon EOS M6
Compare EOS M3 vs EOS M6

Compare OLYMPUS E-PL8 vs CANON EOS M6

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Differences

Olympus E-PL7 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
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 2.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

350 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.7 fps vs 4.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.7 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
17 vs 4 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Olympus E-PL7

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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.
EOS M3 test data on DxO Mark E-PL7 test data on DxO Mark

1,169 vs 873 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 24 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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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Adorama
Read E-PL7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M3 User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

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Buy the Canon EOS M3

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (White)

All EOS M3 Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality for its class including very good ISO performance; Improved performance and ergonomics over the E-PL5; LCD tilts 180 degree downward for easier selfies; Upgraded 3-axis IS system.
No built-in flash (but a small add-on flash is included); No built-in EVF; Default colors somewhat muted; Somewhat quirky menu system.
Read our Olympus E-PL7 Review

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.
Read our Canon EOS M3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PL5

Olympus E-PL7

Olympus E-PL5

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
Fast startup

$329
4/3

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus E-PL5

Canon EOS M3

Olympus E-PL5

$850
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$329
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Olympus E-PL5

Compared to Panasonic GF6

Olympus E-PL7

Panasonic GF6

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$400
4/3

In-camera panoramas
NFC

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic GF6

Canon EOS M3

Panasonic GF6

$850
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$400
4/3

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GF6

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Olympus E-PL7

Samsung NX3000

$399
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Samsung NX3000

Canon EOS M3

Samsung NX3000

$850
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Olympus E-PL7

Olympus E-PL8

$399
4/3

$599
4/3

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus E-PL8

Canon EOS M3

Olympus E-PL8

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
NFC

$599
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Olympus E-PL8

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Olympus E-PL7

Fujifilm X-E3

$399
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Canon EOS M3

Fujifilm X-E3

$850
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
NFC

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Fujifilm X-E3

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