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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the FS15 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was released 2 years after the FS15 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-P3 grades versus the FS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic FS15

 E-P3 FS15 
RevealedAugust 2011January 2009More modern by 32 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus E-P3

 FS15 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FS15

 E-P3 FS15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 offers outer 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 FS15 has specifications of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P3 compared to the FS15.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and FS15 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The pic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and FS15.

All in all, both of these cameras come with the identical MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-P3 provides the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The younger E-P3 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
20
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
Panasonic FS15 Street photography features
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes touch to focus
no moving screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography highlights
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography features
Panasonic FS15 Travel photography features
60
includes touch to focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging info
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2011-08-17 2009-01-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 29-145mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech 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 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 pounds) 136g (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $180