Clicky

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and GX850 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The E-PL3 was announced 6 years prior to the GX850 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL3 matches up versus the GX850 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic GX850

 E-PL3 GX850 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Olympus E-PL3

 GX850 E-PL3 
RevealedJanuary 2017September 2011More recent by 64 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GX850

 E-PL3 GX850 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GX850 has specifications of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 versus the GX850.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and GX850 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and GX850.

Clearly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic GX850 to give more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GX850 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
66
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Panasonic GX850 Street photography features
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
80
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GX850 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Panasonic GX850 Travel photography details
44
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
79
has touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic GX850 Landscape photography information
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (210 CIPA)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GX850 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
73
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
no image stabilization
missing microphone jack
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic GX850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic GX850
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-09-20 2017-01-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias 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 support
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/500 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
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 rating 52 73
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 23.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.3
DXO Low light rating 499 586
Other
Battery life 300 photos 210 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $399 $548