Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FS15

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-P3 Gallery and Panasonic FS15 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.