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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic S3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was launched 17 months later than the S3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-M5 grades against the S3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic S3

 E-M5 S3 
ReleasedApril 2012January 2011More recent by 17 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kCrisper screen (+380k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-M5

 S3 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic S3

 E-M5 S3 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 comes with exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the S3.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and S3 is 81 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The photograph underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and S3.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Panasonic S3
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Panasonic S3 Street photography details
82
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch to focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
has no phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
66
weather proofing
offers touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no Timelapse mode
38
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Panasonic S3 Vlogging features
34
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
31
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-04-30 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
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
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 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) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 250 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $110