Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF3

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic GF3, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 was launched 9 months later than the GF3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-M5 scores against the GF3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 Gallery & Panasonic GF3 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 provides outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic GF3 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic GF3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 versus the GF3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and GF3 is 81 and 90 respectively.

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The graphic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and GF3.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M5 to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer E-M5 should have an advantage in sensor technology.