Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3

The following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZR3, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was brought out 3 years after the ZR3 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up against the ZR3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Panasonic ZR3 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 features exterior 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 ZR3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZR3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 and the ZR3.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and ZR3 is 71 and 94 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out specifications. The picture underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and ZR3.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 will produce greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.