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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 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
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-3 was announced 16 months prior to the GH1 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-3 matches up versus the GH1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic GH1

 E-3 GH1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-3

 GH1 E-3 
ReleasedJuly 2009February 2008More modern by 16 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic GH1

 E-3 GH1 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 has external 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 GH1 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-3 vs the GH1.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and GH1 is 56 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The picture below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and GH1.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic GH1 to provide greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH1
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
59
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
69
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
72
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography advice
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
32
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (320 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography details
Panasonic GH1 Travel photography details
55
environment sealing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
58
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (320 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography info
56
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
low battery power (320 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging details
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging details
18
no video recording
72
screen is selfie friendly
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-02-20 2009-07-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 10.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 385g (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 64
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 11.6
DXO Low light score 571 772
Other
Battery life - 320 shots
Style of battery - 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
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $670 $949