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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus E-P3, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and E-P3 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was launched 2 years after the E-P3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-M1 scores against the E-P3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-P3

 E-M1 E-P3 
LaunchedOctober 2013August 2011Newer by 27 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k614kCrisper screen (+423k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-P3 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P3

 E-M1 E-P3 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 features outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus E-P3 has measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus E-P3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 vs the E-P3.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and E-P3 is 71 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The pic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and E-P3.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-M1 to provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competitors (497g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus via touch
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery power (350 per charge)
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
weather proof
provides focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
low battery power (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
boasts focus via touch
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
low battery power (350 CIPA)
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging details
Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone port
lighter than competitors (497g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus PEN E-P3
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus PEN E-P3
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-10-28 2011-08-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 200)
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 369 gr (0.81 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 51
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 20.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 10.1
DXO Low light score 757 536
Other
Battery life 350 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $799 $0