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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
Portability
83
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GX85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 122 x 71 x 44mm
  • Announced April 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic GX85, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and GX85 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL3 was announced 5 years before the GX85 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL3 scores versus the GX85 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GX85

 E-PL3 GX85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GX85 E-PL3 
AnnouncedApril 2016September 2011More recent by 55 months
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GX85

 E-PL3 GX85 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 provides external measurements 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 GX85 has specifications of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic GX85 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 vs the GX85.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and GX85 is 88 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and GX85.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic GX85 to offer you extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
73
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Panasonic GX85
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
83
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GX85 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow fps (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
63
silent mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
not so great battery (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Panasonic GX85 Travel photography information
44
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
68
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (290 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
75
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
35
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GX85
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
Also called - Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2011-09-20 2016-04-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,764k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 pounds) 426 gr (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 71
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.6
DXO Low light score 499 662
Other
Battery life 300 images 290 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $800