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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Renewed by Panasonic G2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic G1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the G1 (12MP) is pretty similar and they come with the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was released 2 years later than the G1 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PL3 scores against the G1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic G1

 E-PL3 G1 
IntroducedSeptember 2011January 2009More recent by 33 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 G1 E-PL3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic G1

 E-PL3 G1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic G1 has measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") along with a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic G1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL3 versus the G1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and G1 is 88 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and G1.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical MP so you should expect similar quality of images though you need to take the production date of the products into consideration. The newer E-PL3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic G1 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
57
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic G1
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
72
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic G1 Sports photography advice
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Panasonic G1 Travel photography information
44
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
62
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic G1 Landscape photography features
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
57
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Panasonic G1
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
18
can't record video
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic G1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-09-20 2009-01-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 360 gr (0.79 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 53
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.3
DXO Low light rating 499 463
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 330 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $399 $0