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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic G2
  • Later Model is Panasonic G5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the G3 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was introduced 2 years later than the G3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-M1 matches up vs the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic G3

 E-M1 G3 
RevealedOctober 2013July 2011More recent by 28 months
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-M1

 G3 E-M1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G3

 E-M1 G3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has proportions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 vs the G3.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and G3 is 71 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The visual here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and G3.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same MP therefore you can expect similar quality of photos but you really should take the age of the products into consideration. The newer E-M1 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
70
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Panasonic G3 Street photography advice
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
environment proofing
lighter than competition (497 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
75
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Panasonic G3 Sports photography features
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
46
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (497g)
environment proofing
supports focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
terrible battery power (350 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
70
supports focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery power (350 shots)
62
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone port
lighter than competition (497 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
70
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no image stabilization
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-10-28 2011-07-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 11.00 m
Flash modes 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, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 seconds 1/160 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 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 336 grams (0.74 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 56
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 10.6
DXO Low light rating 757 667
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 270 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $799 $500