Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH1

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the FH1 (12MP) is pretty close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FH1 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was released 22 months earlier than the FH1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-3 scores versus the FH1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Panasonic FH1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 enjoys external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH1 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-3 vs the FH1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FH1 is 56 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The pic here should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and FH1.

All in all, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH1 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.