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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 15 months prior to the GF3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PL1 grades versus the GF3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GF3

 E-PL1 GF3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GF3 E-PL1 
ReleasedAugust 2011May 2010More recent by 15 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF3

 E-PL1 GF3 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 provides physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic GF3 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the GF3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and GF3 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The graphic underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and GF3.

Plainly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of pictures however you would want to factor the age of the cameras into account. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Panasonic GF3
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (290 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
58
offers touch to focus
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
does not have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
32
touch screen
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2011-08-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 264 grams (0.58 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 50
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.1
DXO Low light score 487 459
Other
Battery life 290 photos 300 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $288 $360