Clicky

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-P3 was manufactured 8 months after the S3 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-P3 scores versus the S3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic S3

 E-P3 S3 
AnnouncedAugust 2011January 2011More modern by 8 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kCrisper display (+384k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-P3

 S3 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S3

 E-P3 S3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 has got exterior measurements 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 S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 against the S3.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and S3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and S3.

As you can see, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic S3 will provide more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer E-P3 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Panasonic S3
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Panasonic S3 Street photography info
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
no articulating screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Panasonic S3
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography info
Panasonic S3 Travel photography info
60
supports touch focus
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than others (117 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
38
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic S3 Vlogging factors
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
31
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-08-17 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 614k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 117 gr (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 images 250 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $0 $110