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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and FH2 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was announced 3 years before the FH2 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-3 grades against the FH2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-3 FH2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-3

 FH2 E-3 
ReleasedJanuary 2011February 2008More recent by 35 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH2

 E-3 FH2 
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 has physical dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Panasonic FH2 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-3 versus the FH2.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FH2 is 56 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The visual here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and FH2.

All in all, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-3 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH2 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography features
Panasonic FH2 Street photography features
69
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
67
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than average (121g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography details
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography details
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
great battery (270 shots)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography info
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography info
55
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
72
great battery (270 per charge)
lighter than average (121 grams)
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography advice
56
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
missing Timelapse recording
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
great battery (270 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't record video
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than average (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-02-20 2011-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lbs) 121 gr (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 270 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $670 $149