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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 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
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Panasonic FH6
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 56 x 20mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FH6, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and FH6 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FH6 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-3 was introduced 4 years earlier than the FH6 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-3 scores vs the FH6 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FH6

 E-3 FH6 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH6 over the Olympus E-3

 FH6 E-3 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2008More recent by 47 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH6

 E-3 FH6 
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. 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) while the Panasonic FH6 has dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FH6 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 compared to the FH6.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FH6 is 56 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and FH6.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH6 will render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH6
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH6 Street photography highlights
69
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (119 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH6 Sports photography highlights
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
39
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
better than average battery life (280 shots)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Panasonic FH6 Travel photography features
55
weather sealing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
70
better than average battery life (280 shots)
lighter than competitors (119 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH6 Landscape photography info
56
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is small (2.5 inch)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
41
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
better than average battery life (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH6 Vlogging advice
18
can't shoot video
32
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competitors (119 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH6
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-02-20 2012-01-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
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 - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video 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 pounds) 119 grams (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 96 x 56 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 280 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $670 $129