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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic GF3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is very comparable and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was launched 2 months later than the GF3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PL3 grades vs the GF3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GF3

 E-PL3 GF3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GF3 E-PL3 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GF3

 E-PL3 GF3 
ReleasedSeptember 2011August 2011Same age
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic GF3 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic GF3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 vs the GF3.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and GF3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and GF3.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of pictures though you might want to take the launch date of the cameras into account.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
55
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic GF3
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography advice
44
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
58
provides focus via touch
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
32
has touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-20 2011-08-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash settings 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 synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
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 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 264 grams (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 50
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.1
DXO Low light rating 499 459
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 300 pictures
Battery style 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $399 $360