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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
55
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 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
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic LF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 192g - 103 x 62 x 28mm
  • Released November 2013
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic LF1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the LF1 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and LF1 (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 3 years before the LF1 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LF1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PL3 grades versus the LF1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic LF1

 E-PL3 LF1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic LF1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 LF1 E-PL3 
ReleasedNovember 2013September 2011More modern by 26 months
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic LF1

 E-PL3 LF1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Panasonic LF1 has measurements of 103mm x 62mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Panasonic LF1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 versus the LF1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and LF1 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by checking specifications. The picture here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and LF1.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL3 provides the bigger sensor which should make achieving bokeh easier. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LF1 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
42
you can focus manually
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Panasonic LF1 Street photography factors
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Panasonic LF1
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Panasonic LF1 Travel photography details
44
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic LF1 Landscape photography details
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
54
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LF1 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
36
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic LF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic LF1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-09-20 2013-11-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-200mm (7.1x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.00 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
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
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 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 192 gr (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 103 x 62 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 52
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 20.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.6
DXO Low light score 499 211
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 250 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $399 $500