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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic FX78, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and FX78 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was brought out 7 months later than the FX78 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-P3 scores versus the FX78 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic FX78

 E-P3 FX78 
RevealedAugust 2011January 2011Fresher by 7 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen resolution614k230kCrisper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus E-P3

 FX78 E-P3 
Screen dimensions3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FX78

 E-P3 FX78 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys external dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic FX78 has specifications of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic FX78 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 against the FX78.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and FX78 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through specs. The photograph here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and FX78.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The E-P3 contains the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher E-P3 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FX78
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
no moving screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
low fps (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
28
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Panasonic FX78 Travel photography info
60
comes with focus by touch
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
56
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery (200 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography information
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
36
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery (200 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic FX78
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have mic port
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Also called - Lumix DMC-FX77
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-08-17 2011-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3.5"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1400s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lb) 142 gr (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 shots 200 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $210