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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Announced February 2019
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and S1 (24MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and S1 (Full frame) have different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was released 8 years before the S1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P3 scores vs the S1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic S1

 E-P3 S1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-P3

 S1 E-P3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2019August 2011Newer by 90 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2100k614kCrisper display (+1486k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S1

 E-P3 S1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 features physical measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic S1 has specifications of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") having a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 against the S1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and S1 is 86 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The picture here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and S1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic S1 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
85
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
MP count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
Panasonic S1 Street photography features
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features touch to focus
screen is fixed
70
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
heavier than average (1,021g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Panasonic S1 Sports photography info
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
low battery power (380 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
Panasonic S1 Travel photography information
60
features touch to focus
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
weather proofing
has bluetooth
features touch to focus
MP count decent (24MP)
low battery power (380 CIPA)
heavier than average (1,021 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography features
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
81
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
low battery power (380 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic S1
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
32
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
heavier than average (1,021 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2011-08-17 2019-02-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Available lenses 107 30
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 614k dots 2,100k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/320s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lbs) 1021 gr (2.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 95
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 25.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.5
DXO Low light rating 536 3333
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 380 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Card slots 1 Dual
Launch price $0 $2,498