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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-M1 ZR3 
AnnouncedOctober 2013January 2010Newer by 46 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-M1

 ZR3 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-M1 ZR3 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/320s)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
28
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography details
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
65
lighter than average in class (497g)
environment proofing
offers touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
37
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
lighter than average in class (497g)
display isn't selfie friendly
29
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-10-28 2010-01-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1300s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 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 Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic 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 gr (1.10 lbs) 159 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $280