Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G9

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic G9, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and G9 (20MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-PL3 was manufactured 7 years earlier than the G9 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-PL3 scores vs the G9 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DC-G9. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic G9 Gallery.

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 has exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic G9 has specifications of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") along with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic G9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 against the G9.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and G9 is 88 and 62 respectively.

Quite often, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by seeing a spec sheet. The pic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and G9.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic G9 to produce extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.