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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
Portability
72
Imaging
47
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 428g - 124 x 84 x 74mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Older Model is Panasonic G1
  • Renewed by Panasonic G3
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic G2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the G2 (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-P3 was released 14 months later than the G2 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-P3 matches up versus the G2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic G2

 E-P3 G2 
LaunchedAugust 2011July 2010Fresher by 14 months
Display resolution614k460kClearer display (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G2 over the Olympus E-P3

 G2 E-P3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic G2

 E-P3 G2 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 offers exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G2 has specifications of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic G2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P3 vs the G2.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and G2 is 86 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out technical specs. The graphic below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and G2.

As you can tell, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of files though you need to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The newer E-P3 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic G2 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
Panasonic G2 Street photography features
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch to focus
fixed screen
65
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (428 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Panasonic G2
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Panasonic G2 Travel photography info
60
provides touch to focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
58
includes focus by touch
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (428g)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic G2 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
57
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
Panasonic G2 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic support
61
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
has microphone support
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than competitors in class (428 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic G2
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-17 2010-07-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 11.00 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite, 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 428 gr (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 53
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.3
DXO Low light score 536 493
Other
Battery life 330 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $1,000