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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic GF8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and GF8 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-P3 was released 5 years earlier than the GF8 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-P3 scores against the GF8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic GF8

 E-P3 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Olympus E-P3

 GF8 E-P3 
IntroducedFebruary 2016August 2011Fresher by 54 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k614kCrisper screen (+426k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF8

 E-P3 GF8 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 has exterior measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic GF8 has measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic GF8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 and the GF8.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and GF8 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizing just by looking through specs. The graphic underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and GF8.

All in all, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic GF8 to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
65
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
no moving screen
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
max frames per second low (5.8 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GF8 Travel photography factors
60
provides focus via touch
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
66
offers touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF8
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
33
touch screen
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GF8
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-17 2016-02-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 5.8 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 grams (0.81 pounds) 266 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 230 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $549