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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
53
Features
60
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GM1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 204g - 99 x 55 x 30mm
  • Launched December 2013
  • Successor is Panasonic GM5
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GM1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and GM1 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was revealed 3 years earlier than the GM1 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PL3 grades versus the GM1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GM1

 E-PL3 GM1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GM1 E-PL3 
LaunchedDecember 2013September 2011More recent by 27 months
Screen resolution1036k460kSharper screen (+576k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GM1

 E-PL3 GM1 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM1 has proportions of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GM1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL3 and the GM1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and GM1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The graphic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and GM1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic GM1 to give you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GM1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
65
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GM1 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
77
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
lighter than average in class (204 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GM1 Sports photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
48
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Panasonic GM1 Travel photography details
44
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
74
lighter than average in class (204g)
supports touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GM1 Landscape photography features
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
no Timelapse recording
69
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery (230 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Panasonic GM1 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
35
built-in touchscreen
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (204 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no microphone support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GM1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-20 2013-12-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/500s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/50s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 24p), 1280 x 720p (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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) 204g (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 99 x 55 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 66
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.7
DXO Low light rating 499 660
Other
Battery life 300 images 230 images
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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $399 $750