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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FX77
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FX78, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FX78 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the FX78 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-3 matches up vs the FX78 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FX78

 E-3 FX78 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus E-3

 FX78 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2008More recent by 35 months
Display sizing3.5"2.5"Larger display (+1")
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FX78

 E-3 FX78 
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 has outer 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) while the Panasonic FX78 has proportions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FX78 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-3 and the FX78.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and FX78 is 56 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and FX78.

Plainly, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FX78 will render greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older E-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography factors
57
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic FX78
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
max fps low (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography details
Panasonic FX78 Travel photography details
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
56
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery (200 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Landscape photography camera
56
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
36
decently wide (24mm)
big screen (3.5 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
18
lack of video recording
33
decently wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-FX77
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-02-20 2011-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1400 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 142g (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $670 $210