• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  •  
  • 35mm 860.4mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Olympus E-PL3 advantages over Nikon D4S

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Thinner
    37 mm vs 90 mm
    Thinner
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Nikon D4S advantages over Olympus E-PL3

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 7.31 vs 4.29 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.20 vs 2.1 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Better color depth
    24.4 vs 20.9 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,074 vs 499 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.3 vs 10.2 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 3020 vs 300 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 153k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    16.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.6 fps vs 5.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    200 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    409600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent, tank-like build quality; First-rate ergonomics a pro would expect; Superb performance with confident autofocus; Great image quality; Big, bright viewfinder with 100% coverage; Excellent battery life; Doubles as a powerful video capture tool

  • Fairly minor upgrade over the D4; Image quality improvements apply only to JPEG; XQD card format isn't broadly accepted; Consumer-friendly default JPEG processing may turn off some pros; Body is large and hefty (but that's normal for pro gear)

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-PL3
Olympus E-P3
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Internal flash
Nikon D4S
Olympus E-P3
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Internal flash

Compared to Olympus E-PM1

Olympus E-PL3
Olympus E-PM1
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
Nikon D4S
Olympus E-PM1
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner

Compared to Nikon D4

Olympus E-PL3
Nikon D4
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Nikon D4S
Nikon D4
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • Bigger RAW buffer

Compared to Panasonic GF5

Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic GF5
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Fast startup
Nikon D4S
Panasonic GF5
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $430
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Olympus E-PL3
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Nikon D4S
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • More cross-type AF points
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