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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Updated by Panasonic GF5
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM1 was announced 4 months after the GF3 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PM1 grades versus the GF3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic GF3

 E-PM1 GF3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-PM1

 GF3 E-PM1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF3

 E-PM1 GF3 
LaunchedNovember 2011August 2011Similar age
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 has got physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PM1 versus the GF3.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and GF3 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The image below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and GF3.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same megapixels so you can expect similar quality of images but you should really factor the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
55
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography information
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography information
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
45
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
58
comes with touch focus
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
no Time Lapse mode
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging features
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
32
has touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-11-23 2011-08-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
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
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 264 grams (0.58 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 50
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.1
DXO Low light rating 499 459
Other
Battery life 330 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $499 $360