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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FZ80, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and FZ80 (18MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FZ80 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was brought out 10 years earlier than the FZ80 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-3 matches up vs the FZ80 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FZ80

 E-3 FZ80 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Olympus E-3

 FZ80 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2017February 2008More modern by 108 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ80

 E-3 FZ80 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 provides physical measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ80 has measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") along with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FZ80 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-3 vs the FZ80.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and FZ80 is 56 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The pic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and FZ80.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FZ80 will offer you greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FZ80 Portrait photography details
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
58
you can focus manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Panasonic FZ80 Street photography details
69
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
54
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
features focus via touch
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (616 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography details
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution (10MP)
57
great zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
59
features focus via touch
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
more heavy than others in class (616g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography advice
56
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
small screen (2.5 inches)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
57
you can focus manually
decently wide (20mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Vlogging camera
18
lack of video recording
28
decently wide (20mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of microphone support
more heavy than others in class (616g)
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ80
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-02-20 2017-01-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lb) 616g (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
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 - 330 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $670 $399