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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LX3
  • New Model is Panasonic LX7
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic LX5

 E-P3 LX5 
Display resolution614k460kClearer display (+154k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Olympus E-P3

 LX5 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic LX5

 E-P3 LX5 
AnnouncedAugust 2011December 2011Same age
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

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

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
41
has manual focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LX5 Street photography highlights
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
screen does not articulate
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
heavier than others (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography information
60
offers touch to focus
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
59
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (271 grams)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Panasonic LX5
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
52
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging factors
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
29
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
heavier than others (271g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic LX5
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-08-17 2011-12-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 7.20 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
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
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 369g (0.81 pounds) 271g (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 41
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.8
DXO Low light score 536 132
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $0 $294