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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was brought out 2 years later than the ZR1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-P3 scores against the ZR1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-P3 ZR1 
IntroducedAugust 2011July 2009More recent by 26 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kClearer display (+384k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-P3

 ZR1 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-P3 ZR1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 has outside dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P3 against the ZR1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and ZR1 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and ZR1.

As you can see, both the cameras provide the same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The E-P3 comes with the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler. The newer E-P3 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
21
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography factors
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
no articulating screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
60
offers focus by touch
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
57
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography highlights
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging features
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
28
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-08-17 2009-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 614k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 lbs) 158 gr (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $280