Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic G3

Following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic G3, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and G3 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-1 was launched 8 years earlier than the G3 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-1 scores vs the G3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-1 Gallery & Panasonic G3 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-1 offers outside dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic G3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-1 compared to the G3.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and G3 is 59 and 83 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The image underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and G3.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic G3 to show greater detail utilizing its extra 11MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.