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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic G2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G5
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the G3 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 15 months later than the G3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL5 scores vs the G3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic G3

 E-PL5 G3 
RevealedSeptember 2012July 2011Fresher by 15 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-PL5

 G3 E-PL5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic G3

 E-PL5 G3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 provides outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has proportions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 against the G3.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and G3 is 88 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The graphic below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and G3.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same resolution and you should expect similar quality of photos however you really should consider the production date of the products into consideration. The younger E-PL5 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic G3 Portrait photography details
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
70
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic G3
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
75
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography features
Panasonic G3 Sports photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
46
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
Panasonic G3 Travel photography details
75
includes focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
70
includes focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (270 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography information
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
62
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (270 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
Panasonic G3 Vlogging information
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
70
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-09-17 2011-07-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
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
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 325 gr (0.72 lb) 336 gr (0.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 56
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 10.6
DXO Low light rating 889 667
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 270 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $400 $500