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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Replacement is Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and FZ100 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was announced 14 months after the FZ100 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-P3 grades against the FZ100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic FZ100

 E-P3 FZ100 
ReleasedAugust 2011July 2010More modern by 14 months
Screen resolution614k460kClearer screen (+154k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Olympus E-P3

 FZ100 E-P3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FZ100

 E-P3 FZ100 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 provides exterior measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ100 has dimensions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P3 against the FZ100.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and FZ100 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and FZ100.

To sum up, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 using its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic FZ100 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-P3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ100 Portrait photography info
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
54
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography information
Panasonic FZ100 Street photography information
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch to focus
fixed screen
58
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (540g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography features
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low fps (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
features tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ100 Travel photography highlights
60
has touch to focus
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (540g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography info
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
missing Timelapse mode
51
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ100
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone port
64
reasonably wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
slow max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than others in class (540g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic FZ100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic FZ100
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-08-17 2010-07-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lb) 540 gr (1.19 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $500