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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 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
  • Announced September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF2
  • Successor is Panasonic GF5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was manufactured 5 years after the GF3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PL8 scores against the GF3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic GF3

 E-PL8 GF3 
RevealedSeptember 2016August 2011Newer by 63 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-PL8

 GF3 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF3

 E-PL8 GF3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 has outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 versus the GF3.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and GF3 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and GF3.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-PL8 to provide greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PL8 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography information
72
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
55
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography details
Panasonic GF3 Street photography details
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography information
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography factors
71
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
58
boasts touch focus
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low battery (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography info
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
32
touchscreen capability
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-09-19 2011-08-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII 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 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 264 gr (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 459
Other
Battery life 350 shots 300 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $360