Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic S3

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-P3 Gallery & Panasonic S3 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.