Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF3

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF3, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is fairly similar and they use the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was unveiled 3 years prior to the GF3 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-30 scores vs the GF3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Panasonic GF3 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-30 vs the GF3.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and GF3 is 60 and 90 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specifications. The graphic below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and GF3.

Plainly, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of files although you should really take the production date of the products into consideration. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.