Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic FP3

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic FP3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and FP3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was revealed 4 months after the FP3 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-P2 matches up vs the FP3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-P2 Gallery & Panasonic FP3 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 comes with outer dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic FP3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic FP3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-P2 and the FP3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and FP3 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and FP3.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P2 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic FP3 will resolve more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively.