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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH20, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and FH20 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was announced 22 months earlier than the FH20 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-3 scores vs the FH20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-3 FH20 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-3

 FH20 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2010February 2008More modern by 22 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH20

 E-3 FH20 
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 offers outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-3 against the FH20.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and FH20 is 56 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The pic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and FH20.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FH20 will give you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Street photography factors
69
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography highlights
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography information
55
weather sealing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
64
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH20
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is small (2.5")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
37
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging highlights
18
can't record video
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS30
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-02-20 2010-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
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 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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 speed 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $670 $179