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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
52
Features
62
Overall
56

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 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
  • Released July 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic G2
  • Updated by Panasonic G5
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the G3 (16MP) is relatively similar and they come with the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was introduced 10 months later than the G3 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M5 grades against the G3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic G3

 E-M5 G3 
ReleasedApril 2012July 2011More recent by 10 months
Screen resolution610k460kClearer screen (+150k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-M5

 G3 E-M5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic G3

 E-M5 G3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 offers physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has specifications of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") having a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 versus the G3.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and G3 is 81 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over technical specs. The photograph below might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and G3.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact MP so you should expect similar quality of photographs but you have to take the release date of the products into consideration. The more modern E-M5 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic G3 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Panasonic G3 Street photography details
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus by touch
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Panasonic G3
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
47
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (270 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Panasonic G3
66
weather proof
supports touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
70
provides focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (270 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
does not have Time Lapse mode
62
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (270 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic G3 Vlogging factors
34
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
70
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-30 2011-07-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 11.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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))
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 336 grams (0.74 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 56
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 10.6
DXO Low light score 826 667
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 270 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $799 $500