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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2010
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Overview

Following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic FP3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FP3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was announced 3 years after the FP3 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PM2 scores versus the FP3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FP3

 E-PM2 FP3 
IntroducedMay 2013January 2010More modern by 42 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FP3 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FP3

 E-PM2 FP3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 has got physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic FP3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic FP3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PM2 against the FP3.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and FP3 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The image here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and FP3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 with its larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Panasonic FP3
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FP3 as a Street photography camera
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
60
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FP3 Sports photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FP3 Travel photography highlights
66
includes focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
60
includes touch to focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography highlights
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FP3 Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
27
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competitors in class (155g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FP3
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-05-21 2010-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 155 gr (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $448 $182