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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GH1

 E-PL3 GH1 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2009Newer by 27 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GH1 E-PL3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GH1

 E-PL3 GH1 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography information
Panasonic GH1 Street photography information
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
72
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (320 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
44
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
58
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (320 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography info
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (320 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
72
selfie friendly screen
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2011-09-20 2009-07-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 385 grams (0.85 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 64
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.6
DXO Low light score 499 772
Other
Battery life 300 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $399 $949