Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic LX5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is very close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was announced 4 months prior to the LX5 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-P3 grades against the LX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P3 Gallery & Panasonic LX5 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 has physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic LX5 has measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic LX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the LX5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and LX5 is 86 and 88 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The graphic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and LX5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 with its larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-P3 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively.