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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic S3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 2 years later than the S3 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PM2 scores vs the S3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic S3

 E-PM2 S3 
LaunchedMay 2013January 2011More recent by 29 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-PM2

 S3 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic S3

 E-PM2 S3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 features exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the S3.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and S3 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and S3.

As you can see, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will render extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography info
Panasonic S3 Street photography info
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography information
Panasonic S3 Sports photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
66
boasts touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no Time Lapse recording
38
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-05-21 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 grams (0.59 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 250 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack 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 Single Single
Price at release $448 $110