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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 193g - 108 x 58 x 24mm
  • Announced November 2011
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the 3D1 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and 3D1 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was announced 3 years before the 3D1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-P1 grades versus the 3D1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic 3D1

 E-P1 3D1 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Olympus E-P1

 3D1 E-P1 
AnnouncedNovember 2011July 2009More recent by 27 months
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic 3D1

 E-P1 3D1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 comes with exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic 3D1 has measurements of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 compared to the 3D1.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and 3D1 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The visual below might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and 3D1.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide the same MP but different sensor measurements. The E-P1 features the larger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh easier. The older E-P1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
27
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Panasonic 3D1
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography highlights
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic 3D1 Travel photography factors
43
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
provides focus by touch
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic 3D1 Landscape photography features
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
36
decently wide (25mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not available
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery (200 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
34
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic 3D1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic 3D1
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-07-29 2011-11-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.5 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 193 gr (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 200 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $182 $670