Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic GF3

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic GF3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the FE-45 (10MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is very similar but the FE-45 (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FE-45 was released 3 years earlier than the GF3 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-45 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FE-45 scores versus the GF3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-45 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-45 Gallery & Panasonic GF3 Gallery.

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus FE-45 provides outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic GF3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the FE-45 versus the GF3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-45 and GF3 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The image below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-45 and GF3.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FE-45 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GF3 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.