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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS11
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and FH3 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-5 was unveiled 14 months after the FH3 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-5 matches up against the FH3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic FH3

 E-5 FH3 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2010Newer by 14 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Olympus E-5

 FH3 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH3

 E-5 FH3 
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 offers external dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Panasonic FH3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-5 against the FH3.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and FH3 is 58 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The pic here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and FH3.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-5 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FH3 will result in greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-5 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography info
Panasonic FH3 Street photography info
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography details
Panasonic FH3 Sports photography details
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH3 Travel photography advice
56
environment proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
64
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
37
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging details
Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
64
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
does have external microphone jack
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
29
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH3
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS11
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-03 2010-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG 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 800g (1.76 lb) 165g (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $1,700 $160