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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH4
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GH3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and GH3 (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was launched 19 months earlier than the GH3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PL2 matches up against the GH3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic GH3

 E-PL2 GH3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Olympus E-PL2

 GH3 E-PL2 
IntroducedSeptember 2012February 2011More modern by 19 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution614k460kClearer display (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GH3

 E-PL2 GH3 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 has got outer measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic GH3 has proportions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GH3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 against the GH3.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and GH3 is 85 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing technical specs. The pic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and GH3.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic GH3 to render more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Panasonic GH3
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
65
screen articulates fully
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather proof
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
63
max fps high (20.0 frames/s)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
Panasonic GH3 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
bad battery (280 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
71
good battery pack (540 per charge)
weather proof
comes with touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (550g)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography highlights
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 shots)
no Time Lapse function
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proof
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
Panasonic GH3 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
65
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic jack
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GH3
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-11 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating OLED Monitor with static touch control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,744 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.67x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 lb) 550g (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 71
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 12.4
DXO Low light score 573 812
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 540 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $0 $799