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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 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
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 Overview

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the G3 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and G3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 2 years after the G3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores vs the G3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony G3

 E-PM1 G3 
LaunchedNovember 2011January 2009Newer by 35 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Olympus E-PM1

 G3 E-PM1 
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony G3

 E-PM1 G3 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 provides exterior 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 Sony G3 has specifications of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 and the G3.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and G3 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and G3.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM1 will show more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PM1 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography factors
Sony G3 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
26
manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Sony G3
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Sony G3
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography advice
Sony G3 Travel photography advice
45
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony G3
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
36
manual focus
bigger than average screen (3.5 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony G3 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
27
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony G3
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-11-23 2009-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
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 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 1 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 pounds) 185 grams (0.41 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $499 $200