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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic TS5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 110 x 67 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2013
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT5
  • Previous Model is Panasonic TS4
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS6
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and TS5 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TS5 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was announced 23 months prior to the TS5 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-P3 matches up versus the TS5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic TS5

 E-P3 TS5 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS5 over the Olympus E-P3

 TS5 E-P3 
AnnouncedJuly 2013August 2011Newer by 23 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic TS5

 E-P3 TS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 provides physical measurements 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 TS5 has dimensions of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 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 change based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-P3 and the TS5.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and TS5 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing technical specs. The pic underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and TS5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic TS5 will provide extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic TS5 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
32
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography factors
Panasonic TS5 Street photography factors
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus by touch
fixed screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
lack of phase detect AF
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery (370 per charge)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Panasonic TS5 Travel photography details
60
includes focus by touch
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
72
great battery (370 per charge)
weather proofing
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
52
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
great battery (370 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic TS5
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic TS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic TS5
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
Also called - Lumix DMC-FT5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2011-08-17 2013-07-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 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, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lbs) 214 gr (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 110 x 67 x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 370 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 DMW-BCM13
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $350