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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF7
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GF8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and GF8 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was introduced 5 years before the GF8 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL3 grades vs the GF8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GF8

 E-PL3 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GF8 E-PL3 
RevealedFebruary 2016September 2011More modern by 53 months
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GF8

 E-PL3 GF8 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers physical 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 GF8 has dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GF8 in our newest 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 attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 vs the GF8.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and GF8 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The image underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and GF8.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic GF8 to offer you extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
65
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Panasonic GF8 Sports photography information
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Travel photography camera
44
no Time Lapse function
bad battery (300 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (230 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography highlights
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF8 Vlogging information
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
33
touch screen
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GF8
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-09-20 2016-02-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI Venus Engine
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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/500s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 pounds) 266 gr (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 230 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $399 $549