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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
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
  • Released August 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM2 was brought out 22 months after the GF3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the GF3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic GF3

 E-PM2 GF3 
ReleasedMay 2013August 2011More modern by 22 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-PM2

 GF3 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF3

 E-PM2 GF3 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the GF3.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and GF3 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and GF3.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus E-PM2 to give more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
55
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery pack (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography advice
66
offers focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
58
features touch focus
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography advice
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have Timelapse function
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
32
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-05-21 2011-08-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 264 gr (0.58 lb)
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 Overall rating 72 50
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 10.1
DXO Low light rating 932 459
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 300 photographs
Type of battery 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $448 $360