Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48


91 Imaging
53 Features
62 Overall
56
Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Key Specs
(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
- Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
- Renewed by Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
- Announced September 2014
- Older Model is Panasonic GM1

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Overview
On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic GM5, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and GM5 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

The E-3 was introduced 7 years before the GM5 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-3 scores against the GM5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-3 Gallery and Panasonic GM5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic GM5
E-3 | GM5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Olympus E-3
GM5 | E-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | September 2014 | ![]() | February 2008 | Fresher by 79 months |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+691k dot) |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic GM5
E-3 | GM5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very precise focus |
Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Physical Comparison
For those who are going to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 features 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) while the Panasonic GM5 has sizing of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).
Check out the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic GM5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-3 against the GM5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and GM5 is 56 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading technical specs. The visual here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and GM5.
As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic GM5 to offer extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic GM5 Specifications
Olympus E-3 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model type | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 |
Type | Advanced DSLR | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Launched | 2008-02-20 | 2014-09-15 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic III | Venus Engine |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | Four Thirds |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 16MP |
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 | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW photos | ||
Min enhanced ISO | - | 100 |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 23 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Available lenses | 45 | 107 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 230 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,166 thousand dots |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | 0.46x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 secs | 60 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/500 secs |
Fastest quiet shutter speed | - | 1/16000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 5.0fps | 5.8fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/250 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) |
Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 890 grams (1.96 lbs) | 211 grams (0.47 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 56 | 66 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.6 | 22.1 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.5 | 11.7 |
DXO Low light rating | 571 | 721 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 220 pictures |
Battery type | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | DMW-BLH7 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail price | $670 | $966 |