Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3
89 Imaging
52 Features
63 Overall
56
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90 Imaging
48 Features
48 Overall
48
Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs
(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
(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
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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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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery and Panasonic GF3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic GF3
E-PM2 | GF3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | May 2013 | ![]() | August 2011 | More modern by 22 months |
Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus E-PM2
GF3 | E-PM2 |
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Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF3
E-PM2 | GF3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial precise focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen size |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 460k | The 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.
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.
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Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and GF3 is 89 and 90 respectively.
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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.
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PM2 | Panasonic 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 |