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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 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
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and FH8 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was unveiled 4 years before the FH8 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-3 matches up vs the FH8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-3 FH8 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-3

 FH8 E-3 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2008Fresher by 47 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH8

 E-3 FH8 
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 has exterior dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH8 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-3 against the FH8.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FH8 is 56 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The visual below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and FH8.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-3 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH8 will give greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
57
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography advice
Panasonic FH8 Street photography advice
70
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (123g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH8 Sports photography highlights
58
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Panasonic FH8
55
weather proofing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
69
lighter than competition (123 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography factors
56
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
43
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH8 Vlogging factors
18
no video
33
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (123 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-02-20 2012-01-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 4cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 890g (1.96 lb) 123g (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" 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 - 260 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $670 $149