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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is very well matched and they come with the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-P3 was revealed 7 months earlier than the GF5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-P3 scores vs the GF5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-P3 GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-P3

 GF5 E-P3 
RevealedApril 2012August 2011More modern by 7 months
Display resolution920k614kCrisper display (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF5

 E-P3 GF5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 offers external dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 vs the GF5.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and GF5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and GF5.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP therefore you should expect similar quality of files although you will need to consider the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-P3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
55
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
no moving screen
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes touch focus
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography information
60
offers focus via touch
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
includes touch focus
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
59
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
32
touchscreen functionality
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-08-17 2012-04-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.30 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (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
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 lbs) 267g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 50
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.0
DXO Low light score 536 573
Other
Battery life 330 images 360 images
Type 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $0 $600