Clicky

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GF2
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the GF1 (12MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-P3 was unveiled 23 months after the GF1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-P3 scores against the GF1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic GF1

 E-P3 GF1 
LaunchedAugust 2011October 2009More modern by 23 months
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Olympus E-P3

 GF1 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF1

 E-P3 GF1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 features physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic GF1 has specifications of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 in the all 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 have at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 vs the GF1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and GF1 is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The picture underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and GF1.

Plainly, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same resolution and you should expect similar quality of images although you need to factor the release date of the products into consideration. The more recent E-P3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Panasonic GF1
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
no articulating screen
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Panasonic GF1
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
44
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 shots)
slow fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Panasonic GF1 Travel photography info
60
includes touch to focus
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
59
better than average battery power (380 shots)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography highlights
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic GF1
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
25
offers face detect focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-17 2009-10-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 614k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 385 gr (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 54
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.3
DXO Low light score 536 513
Other
Battery life 330 photos 380 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $0 $400