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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 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
  • Announced July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic TS3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Replaced the Panasonic TS2
  • Successor is Panasonic TS4
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic TS3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the TS3 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and TS3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was announced 24 months prior to the TS3 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-P1 grades versus the TS3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic TS3

 E-P1 TS3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Olympus E-P1

 TS3 E-P1 
RevealedAugust 2011July 2009More modern by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic TS3

 E-P1 TS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 provides 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) whilst the Panasonic TS3 has specifications of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic TS3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 versus the TS3.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and TS3 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The pic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and TS3.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-P1 includes the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Panasonic TS3
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography information
Panasonic TS3 Street photography information
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography details
Panasonic TS3 Sports photography details
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (310 shots)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
max fps low (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Panasonic TS3
43
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
63
better than average battery life (310 per charge)
environment proofing
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS3
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
38
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
better than average battery life (310 CIPA)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Panasonic TS3
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic TS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic TS3
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FT3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2009-07-29 2011-08-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V Venus Engine FHD
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 pounds) 197g (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 310 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $182 $380