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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the GF2 (12MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-P3 was manufactured 6 months later than the GF2 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-P3 scores versus the GF2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-P3 GF2 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-P3

 GF2 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF2

 E-P3 GF2 
AnnouncedAugust 2011February 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys external measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF2 has proportions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 against the GF2.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and GF2 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and GF2.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact MP so you should expect similar quality of photographs however you may want to take the release date of the products into consideration.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Street photography camera
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
screen is fixed
65
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Panasonic GF2
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect auto focus
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Panasonic GF2 Travel photography details
60
comes with touch focus
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography features
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
no Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
32
touchscreen capability
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-08-17 2011-02-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
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
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
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 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 pounds) 310 grams (0.68 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 54
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.3
DXO Low light score 536 506
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 300 pictures
Style 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $330