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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Launched August 2020
  • Newer Model is Panasonic S5 II
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was launched 10 years prior to the S5 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-P3 scores versus the S5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic S5

 E-P3 S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Olympus E-P3

 S5 E-P3 
LaunchedAugust 2020August 2011Newer by 109 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1840k614kClearer screen (+1226k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S5

 E-P3 S5 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3.0"Equivalent screen measurements
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 has got outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic S5 has proportions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the S5.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and S5 is 86 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and S5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic S5 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S5 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
85
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Panasonic S5
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
no articulating screen
78
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Panasonic S5 Sports photography info
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Panasonic S5
60
comes with focus via touch
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
79
weather proof
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good resolution (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic S5 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
86
focusing manually
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
good sized screen (3.0")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic S5 Vlogging advice
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
79
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S5
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-08-17 2020-08-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Number of lenses 107 31
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3.0 inch
Display resolution 614k dot 1,840k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lb) 714 gr (1.57 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 440 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Storage slots Single Dual
Price at release $0 $1,999