Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S3

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic S3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was manufactured 17 months earlier than the S3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-P1 matches up versus the S3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-P1 Gallery & Panasonic S3 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 features external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-P1 versus the S3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and S3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and S3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic S3 will result in extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.