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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Older Model is Panasonic G2
  • Replacement is Panasonic G5
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and G3 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 14 months earlier than the G3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL1 scores vs the G3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic G3

 E-PL1 G3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 G3 E-PL1 
LaunchedJuly 2011May 2010Fresher by 14 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G3

 E-PL1 G3 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 offers physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has sizing of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the G3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and G3 is 86 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and G3.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic G3 to resolve greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic G3 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
70
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Panasonic G3 Street photography features
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
75
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus via touch
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Panasonic G3 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Panasonic G3 Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
bad battery power (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
offers focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography advice
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
62
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging features
Panasonic G3 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
70
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have image stabilization
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-05-17 2011-07-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 11.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
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 334g (0.74 pounds) 336g (0.74 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 56
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.6
DXO Low light score 487 667
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 270 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $288 $500