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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Announced February 2018
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic GX9, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and GX9 (20MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the GX9 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL3 grades versus the GX9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GX9

 E-PL3 GX9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GX9 E-PL3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018September 2011More recent by 77 months
Screen resolution1240k460kClearer screen (+780k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GX9

 E-PL3 GX9 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GX9 has dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") and a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic GX9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 and the GX9.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and GX9 is 88 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The visual here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and GX9.

As you have seen, both cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic GX9 to offer extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
76
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic GX9
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Panasonic GX9 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
72
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GX9 as a Travel photography camera
44
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
has bluetooth
supports touch to focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX9 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Panasonic GX9
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GX9
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2011-09-20 2018-02-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Venus Engine
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 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,240 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,760 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 407 gr (0.90 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 260 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $399 $1,000