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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic G6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 122 x 85 x 71mm
  • Announced April 2013
  • Old Model is Panasonic G5
  • Replacement is Panasonic G7
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and G6 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was introduced 19 months prior to the G6 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G6 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL3 grades vs the G6 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic G6

 E-PL3 G6 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G6 over the Olympus E-PL3

 G6 E-PL3 
AnnouncedApril 2013September 2011More modern by 19 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k460kCrisper display (+576k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic G6

 E-PL3 G6 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 features external dimensions 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 G6 has dimensions of 122mm x 85mm x 71mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the G6.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and G6 is 88 and 74 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over specifications. The picture here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and G6.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic G6 to deliver greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic G6 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic G6
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
73
screen can move to multiple angles
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic G6 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
56
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Panasonic G6
44
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
72
provides focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic G6
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
67
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Panasonic G6 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
73
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone socket
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic G6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic G6
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-20 2013-04-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 1,036 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 lbs) 390g (0.86 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 85 x 71mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 61
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 21.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.5
DXO Low light rating 499 639
Other
Battery life 300 images 340 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $399 $750