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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic G2
  • Replacement is Panasonic G5
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the G3 (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was brought out 5 years later than the G3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL8 scores vs the G3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic G3

 E-PL8 G3 
IntroducedSeptember 2016July 2011More recent by 64 months
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-PL8

 G3 E-PL8 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic G3

 E-PL8 G3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 has got outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic G3 has proportions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL8 against the G3.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and G3 is 86 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and G3.

As you can see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of photographs however you would want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The younger E-PL8 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Portrait photography camera
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
70
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Panasonic G3
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
75
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography factors
Panasonic G3 Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (270 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
Panasonic G3 Travel photography features
71
features touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
70
comes with focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography highlights
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
62
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic G3 Vlogging highlights
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
70
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-09-19 2011-07-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 160
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 11.00 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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 file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 336g (0.74 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 56
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 667
Other
Battery life 350 shots 270 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $500