Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3: An Expert Comparison for the Budget-Conscious Photographer

When diving into the entry-level mirrorless world circa early 2010s, two names inevitably pop up: Olympus PEN E-PL1s and Panasonic Lumix GF3. Both cameras aim squarely at enthusiasts stepping up from compact shooters, promising more control and interchangeable lenses using the micro four thirds system. As someone who has spent years testing and juggling many mirrorless models, I find these two particularly interesting because they embody a key transitional era for mirrorless cameras - balance between accessible design and advanced features.

In this detailed comparison, I’ll break down their real-world usability, core specs, and how each fares across photography disciplines - from portraits to wildlife, plus video and travel use. Whether you’re a cheapskate hobbyist or a photography professional looking to understand the entry-level landscape of this vintage gear, here’s an unvarnished, hands-on look that’ll help inform your purchase or upgrade decisions.

Getting Acquainted: Size, Handling & Build

Ergonomics matter a lot, especially when you’re shooting for hours - say, street shoots or nature hikes. Before we get technical, let’s look at how these two cameras feel in your hands and their design philosophy.

The Olympus E-PL1s measures 115x72x42mm and weighs 334g, while the Panasonic GF3 is a more petite 108x67x32mm and lighter at 264g. That difference in size means the E-PL1s comes across as chunkier, giving a slightly more substantial grip. If you have larger hands or prefer clubs for thumbs, Olympus’s rangefinder-style body offers more to hold on to.

In contrast, the Panasonic GF3’s smaller footprint feels snug and streamlined - great for discreteness. Its body is sleek enough to slip into a jacket pocket or tiny bag, which street photographers and travelers will appreciate. But if you favor physical controls, the Olympus has the edge due to better button placement and a top-dedicated exposure compensation dial - a neat feature for adjusting exposure quickly without diving into menus.

One thing to note: neither camera sports weather sealing or rugged construction, so neither is a good pick if you plan on shooting in harsh elements regularly.

Sensor & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras use the micro four thirds sensor platform, specifically a 12MP CMOS sensor measuring approximately 17.3x13mm (~225mm² sensor area). Although this sensor size inherently limits certain aspects like noise performance and depth of field control compared to APS-C or full frame sensors, it offers a compact system with plenty of available lenses.

A deeper dive reveals the Olympus E-PL1s employs the Truepic V processor, whereas Panasonic’s GF3 uses the newer Venus Engine FHD chipset. This matters because image processing efficiency influences noise handling, color reproduction, and dynamic range.

Raw files: Both cameras support raw capture, an essential feature for enthusiasts who want to wring maximum quality during editing. I ran controlled ISO sensitivity tests and discovered:

• The Olympus E-PL1s achieves a native ISO range of 100-6400 but starts showing noise above ISO 800 more aggressively than the GF3.
• The Panasonic GF3 starts at ISO 160, maxing at 6400 as well, but its Venus Engine FHD handles low-light performance a smidge better. DxOMark rates GF3 with an overall sensor score of 50, color depth of 20.6 bits, and dynamic range near 10 stops - respectable for the time.

Color and tone: Olympus tends towards slightly warmer, punchier colors out of the box, which many portrait shooters may find flattering. Panasonic’s rendition leans more neutral and faithful, appealing to those wanting color accuracy for post-processing.

Lens ecosystem: Both cameras use the Micro Four Thirds mount, compatible with over 107 native lenses from both brands and third parties like Sigma and Tamron. This broad lens choice hugely benefits portrait and wildlife photographers who rely on specific focal lengths and apertures.

Display & Viewfinder: User Interface Experience

No optical viewfinders here - both rely on LCD screens of differing quality to frame and review shots.

The Olympus E-PL1s sports a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k-dot resolution and HyperCrystal LCD with AR coating. It means decent visibility outdoors, but the screen is a bit cramped and lower res. This makes manual focusing and reviewing finer details trickier - especially in bright light situations.

The Panasonic GF3 has a 3-inch, 460k-dot TFT LCD with wide viewing angles and a touchscreen interface. This touchscreen is a game-changer at this level. I found composing and navigating menus much faster with GF3’s touch controls, especially in live view autofocus.

Neither camera includes a built-in electronic viewfinder (you can add one to the Olympus, but expect extra bulk and cost). So if you’re used to shooting via a viewfinder, you may appreciate the Olympus’s optional EVF slightly more for flexibility.

Autofocus, Burst Rate & Shooting Performance

For action, wildlife, or sports photographers, autofocus (AF) speed, accuracy, and burst rates are critical performance metrics.

Autofocus systems: Both cameras use contrast-detection AF with face detection and 11 (Olympus) vs 23 (Panasonic) focus points, respectively.

• The Olympus E-PL1s’s AF feels deliberate but sometimes slow to lock, especially in low contrast or low light, due to the older Truepic V processor and AF algorithms.
• The Panasonic GF3 with its Venus Engine offers noticeably snappier autofocus with better tracking across moving subjects, aided by more AF points covering the frame.

Continuous shooting: Both cameras max out at a modest 3 frames per second. Not groundbreaking but enough for casual sports or fleeting wildlife moments.

Manual focusing: Both support manual focus modes, but Olympus’s focus assist features felt more helpful to me during macro and portrait shoots, with better magnification options for critical focus.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Eye Detection, and Bokeh

Portrait photographers prize accurate skin tone rendition, effective eye detection autofocus, and pleasing background blur (bokeh).

• Olympus E-PL1s shines with its warmer colors and excellent face detection AF in live view, helping you nail eye focus even with less experienced models. The in-body image stabilization lends a hand with slower shutter speeds indoors.
• Panasonic GF3’s more neutral color temperature means you might spend a bit more time in post, but its autofocus tracking gives confidence with moving subjects or kids.
• Bokeh quality will largely depend on the lens rather than the camera body. Both cameras’ lenses benefit from the micro four thirds crop factor (2.1x), so wide apertures behave more telephoto-like.

If portraits are your main gig and you appreciate a bit of hassle-free warmth in colors straight from camera, Olympus is the better pick.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscape shooters demand sharp resolution and expansive dynamic range to capture intricate scenes.

• Both offer 12MP sensors; while not the highest resolution by modern standards, they provide ample detail if you’re pixel peeping up to moderate print sizes.
• Panasonic edges out with the slightly superior dynamic range and color depth, crucial for preserving highlight and shadow detail during post-processing.
• Neither camera has built-in weather sealing, an understandable shortcoming at this price point and era, so caution is needed outdoors.
• Olympus’s in-body image stabilization can help with slower shutter speeds on a tripod-less hike.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Handling Speed and Accuracy

Given both perform with modest 3 fps burst speed and contrast-detect AF, neither is ideal for professional sports or fast wildlife shooting. However:

• Panasonic’s faster autofocus and more AF points translate to better tracking of erratic subjects.
• Olympus’s face detection also helps in wildlife portraits but struggles with fast-moving critters.
• Both cameras are limited by their max shutter speeds (Olympus max 1/2000s, Panasonic 1/4000s), which might impact action shots under bright daylight.

Street and Travel Photography: Discreetness and Portability

Street photographers crave discreet, lightweight cameras to blend in unnoticed.

Here the GF3 shines - the smallest and lightest in this comparison, its silent operation and touchscreen simplify quick candid capturing. Olympus’s E-PL1s is still pocketable but more noticeable.

Battery life is roughly comparable (~290 shots Olympus vs ~300 Panasonic), sufficient for day trips but you’ll want spares for extended adventures.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography: Focusing & High ISO Capabilities

Neither camera specializes in macro, but Olympus’s sensor-based image stabilization and manual focus assist made macro shots less frustrating under my tests, producing sharper close-ups.

For night and astrophotography, Panasonic’s better low-light ISO handling and more advanced sensor processing make it the preferred pick among these two. Olympus can get grainy beyond ISO 800.

Video Capabilities: What They Bring to the Table

Video is an often overlooked but fast-growing photo discipline.

• Olympus E-PL1s outputs 720p at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - basic but serviceable for casual use.
• Panasonic GF3 records full 1080p HD at 60fps and supports AVCHD and Motion JPEG codecs, providing smoother footage and better compression.

Neither camera has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio tweak options.

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow Integration

While neither camera is intended as a pro workhorse, some features impact serious users:

• Both feature raw file support, essential for professional-level editing flexibility.
• Olympus scores with better exposure compensation dial and more customizable manual control options on the body.
• Panasonic’s touchscreen speeds up on-the-fly settings and reviewing.
• Both lack wireless connectivity or GPS, so tethering or geotagging requires additional gear.

Practical Hands-On Use: Verdict By Use Case

Let's summarize practical pros and cons for easy digestion:

Olympus PEN E-PL1s

Pros:

• Better build for grip and handling
• In-body image stabilization
• Warmer, more pleasing colors out of camera
• More physical controls (exposure compensation dial)
• Raw shooting supported
• Optional electronic viewfinder upgrade

Cons:

• Smaller, lower-res LCD
• Slower autofocus in low light
• Limited video (720p only)
• Bulkier, heavier

Panasonic Lumix GF3

Pros:

• Compact, lightweight, great for travel/street
• Larger, higher-res touchscreen with intuitive controls
• Faster and more accurate autofocus
• Better video specs (1080p 60fps)
• Slightly better sensor dynamic range and low-light performance
• Raw shooting supported

Cons:

• No in-body image stabilization
• More minimalist physical controls
• No external flash support
• No optional EVF upgrade available

Overall Performance at a Glance

Here's a quick overview of how the two stack up in overall performance scores compiled from hands-on tests, lab data, and user feedback:

Performance by Photography Genre

Digging deeper, here’s how each camera ranks per genre, highlighting ideal uses:

Sample Images to Examine Real-World Output

I compiled sets of JPEGs and raw conversions from both cameras under comparable conditions for side-by-side quality evaluation. This will help you assess color, detail, and noise yourself:

Olympus E PL1s front Olympus E PL1s screen back Panasonic GF3 front Panasonic GF3 screen back

Final Thoughts – Which Should You Buy?

For photographers starting out or on a budget seeking a solid entry-level interchangeable lens camera:

• Choose the Olympus E-PL1s if you prioritize solid handling, manual control dials, slightly warmer colors straight out of camera, and in-camera stabilization that aids handheld low-light shooting. It’s better suited for portrait enthusiasts and those who want a bit more comfort in grip.

• Opt for the Panasonic GF3 if ultra-portability, touchscreen ease-of-use, faster autofocus, and superior video specs matter most. It’s the ideal cheapskate choice for street shooters, travelers, and casual videographers who want modern conveniences and better low-light performance.

With both cameras priced well under $600 (PEN E-PL1s around $598, GF3 closer to $360), your choice boils down to handling preference and feature priorities. They remain capable little workhorses and a great gateway into mirrorless photography even a decade later.

Quick Recap Table

If you can get hands-on with both, I strongly recommend it - handling preferences and UI intuitiveness make all the difference. But if swiping your thumb on a bright touchscreen while swiftly changing settings sounds appealing, Panasonic GF3 comes out ahead. If you like more tactile engagement with physical knobs and steady handheld shooting capability, Olympus E-PL1s has your back.

Hope this comparison helps you find the perfect fit for your creative journey! Feel free to ask if you want lens suggestions or shooting tips for either camera.

Happy shooting!