Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GH1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is relatively close and they enjoy the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was revealed 2 years after the GH1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PL3 grades vs the GH1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GH1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the GH1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and GH1 is 88 and 81 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through specifications. The image underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and GH1.

To sum up, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of files although you have to take the age of the cameras into account. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.