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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released November 2008
  • Successor is Panasonic LX5
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic LX3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the LX3 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and LX3 (1/1.63") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was revealed 3 years later than the LX3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-PM1 scores against the LX3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic LX3

 E-PM1 LX3 
ReleasedNovember 2011November 2008More recent by 38 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Olympus E-PM1

 LX3 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic LX3

 E-PM1 LX3 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 has got outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic LX3 has proportions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic LX3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the LX3.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and LX3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and LX3.

Clearly, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PM1 will render greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent E-PM1 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
40
focusing manually
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography details
Panasonic LX3 Street photography details
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/1.63")
heavier than average in class (265g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LX3 Sports photography advice
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of phase detect AF
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LX3 as a Travel photography camera
45
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (265g)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic LX3
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
30
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
heavier than average in class (265g)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic LX3
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-11-23 2008-11-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-60mm (2.5x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-2.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 265 grams (0.58 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 39
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.8
DXO Low light rating 499 94
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $499 $449