Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic FP3

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic FP3, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and FP3 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and FP3 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-1 was unveiled 7 years before the FP3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-1 grades vs the FP3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-1 Gallery & Panasonic FP3 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 features physical measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Panasonic FP3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic FP3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-1 compared to the FP3.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and FP3 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and FP3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-1 having a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic FP3 will result in extra detail having an extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.