Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48


96 Imaging
39 Features
32 Overall
36
Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs
(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- Superseded the Olympus E-1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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-3 Gallery and Panasonic FH8 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FH8
E-3 | FH8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-3
FH8 | E-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2012 | ![]() | February 2008 | Fresher by 47 months |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FH8
E-3 | FH8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications
Olympus E-3 | Panasonic 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 |