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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P5
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic ZS100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was released 5 years earlier than the ZS100 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-P3 grades against the ZS100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-P3 ZS100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-P3

 ZS100 E-P3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016August 2011Newer by 53 months
Display resolution1040k614kClearer display (+426k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-P3 ZS100 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 comes with 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 ZS100 has measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic ZS100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P3 versus the ZS100.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and ZS100 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions only by checking technical specs. The pic underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and ZS100.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS100 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
64
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography highlights
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
no moving screen
78
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (312g)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
no phase detect AF
67
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography features
60
boasts touch to focus
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
75
lighter than competitors in class (312 grams)
comes with focus via touch
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography details
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
68
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
35
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (312 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-08-17 2016-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 9.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 lb) 312g (0.69 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 70
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 12.5
DXO Low light score 536 559
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 300 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $700