Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic 3D1

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic 3D1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the 3D1 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and 3D1 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-5 was introduced 9 months prior to the 3D1 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-5 scores versus the 3D1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-5 Gallery and Panasonic 3D1 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 enjoys outside dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Panasonic 3D1 has sizing of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic 3D1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-5 compared to the 3D1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and 3D1 is 58 and 93 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reviewing technical specs. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and 3D1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have the same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-5 has the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The more aged E-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.