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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic FP7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 147g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP7, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and FP7 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and FP7 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 8 months after the FP7 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-P3 grades versus the FP7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic FP7

 E-P3 FP7 
IntroducedAugust 2011January 2011Newer by 8 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Olympus E-P3

 FP7 E-P3 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP7

 E-P3 FP7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 has outside 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 FP7 has measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 and the FP7.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and FP7 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by checking technical specs. The pic here may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and FP7.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic FP7 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer E-P3 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FP7 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Panasonic FP7 Street photography info
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
no articulating screen
60
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than average (147 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FP7 Sports photography factors
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
44
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (240 shots)
slow fps (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Panasonic FP7
60
boasts focus via touch
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
63
great battery pack (240 CIPA)
includes touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (147 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Panasonic FP7
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
41
big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
great battery pack (240 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FP7 Vlogging highlights
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
29
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
heavier than average (147g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FP7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FP7
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2011-08-17 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3.5 inch
Display resolution 614 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 4.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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) 147 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 shots 240 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $0 $227