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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic GX7
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GX1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and GX1 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-P3 was announced 6 months prior to the GX1 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-P3 grades versus the GX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic GX1

 E-P3 GX1 
Display resolution614k460kClearer display (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Olympus E-P3

 GX1 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GX1

 E-P3 GX1 
ReleasedAugust 2011February 2012Similar generation
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 has got outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic GX1 has proportions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GX1 in the all new 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 at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P3 compared to the GX1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and GX1 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The image here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and GX1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic GX1 to deliver greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography details
Panasonic GX1 Street photography details
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
no moving screen
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography features
Panasonic GX1 Sports photography features
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Panasonic GX1 Travel photography details
60
boasts touch focus
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
65
includes touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (300 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography factors
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
62
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic GX1
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic port
32
touchscreen functionality
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic GX1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-08-17 2012-02-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip 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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 7.60 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
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 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lb) 318 grams (0.70 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 55
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 20.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.6
DXO Low light score 536 703
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 300 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $228