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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic G2
  • Replacement is Panasonic G5
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and G3 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was launched 4 years earlier than the G3 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-3 grades vs the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic G3

 E-3 G3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-3

 G3 E-3 
AnnouncedJuly 2011February 2008More modern by 41 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic G3

 E-3 G3 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 provides physical 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) and the Panasonic G3 has proportions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-3 and the G3.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and G3 is 56 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The image below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and G3.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic G3 to render extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
70
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic G3
69
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
75
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus via touch
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Panasonic G3
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
46
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proof
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
70
has focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery life (270 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography advice
56
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
tiny screen (2.5")
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
62
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Panasonic G3
18
lack of video recording
70
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-02-20 2011-07-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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) 336g (0.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 10.6
DXO Low light rating 571 667
Other
Battery life - 270 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $670 $500