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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and FP3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was brought out 20 months after the FP3 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-P3 grades vs the FP3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic FP3

 E-P3 FP3 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2010Newer by 20 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display resolution614k230kCrisper display (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Olympus E-P3

 FP3 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP3

 E-P3 FP3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 comes with outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic FP3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 versus the FP3.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and FP3 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and FP3.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FP3 will resolve more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-P3 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography advice
Panasonic FP3 Street photography advice
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
screen does not articulate
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FP3 Sports photography advice
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FP3 Travel photography factors
60
has touch to focus
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
60
provides touch to focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (155 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FP3 as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
37
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Panasonic FP3 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
27
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
heavier than competition (155g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP3
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-08-17 2010-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
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
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 4.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369g (0.81 lbs) 155g (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $182