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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic FH20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was launched 20 months after the FH20 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-P3 grades versus the FH20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-P3 FH20 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2010Newer by 20 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-P3

 FH20 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FH20

 E-P3 FH20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 provides outside dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic FH20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 and the FH20.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and FH20 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specifications. The pic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and FH20.

Plainly, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic FH20 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-P3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH20
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Panasonic FH20 Street photography info
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus by touch
no moving screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography factors
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography factors
60
provides focus by touch
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
64
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
37
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging information
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging information
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Other name - Lumix DMC-FS30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-08-17 2010-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 614k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $179