Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic G3

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic G3, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and G3 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-510 was released 4 years before the G3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-510 matches up against the G3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Panasonic G3 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-510 has exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has sizing of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

See the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic G3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-510 compared to the G3.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and G3 is 69 and 83 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-510 and G3.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic G3 to resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.