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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
71
Imaging
52
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
47
Features
48
Overall
47

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • New Model is Panasonic GF5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic GF3, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was unveiled 2 years later than the GF3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-M1 scores vs the GF3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic GF3

 E-M1 GF3 
LaunchedOctober 2013August 2011Fresher by 27 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-M1

 GF3 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GF3

 E-M1 GF3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has got physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic GF3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 versus the GF3.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and GF3 is 71 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and GF3.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M1 to offer you extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Panasonic GF3 Street photography features
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
weather sealing
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography features
69
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average in class (497g)
weather sealing
includes focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (350 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
58
comes with touch to focus
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography features
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery pack (350 CIPA)
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging advice
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
32
touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-10-28 2011-08-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Venus Engine FHD
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 264 grams (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 50
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 10.1
DXO Low light rating 757 459
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 300 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $360