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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic G2
  • Successor is Panasonic G5
Photography Glossary

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic G3, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and G3 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The PEN-F was revealed 4 years after the G3 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the PEN-F scores versus the G3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic G3

 PEN-F G3 
ReleasedJanuary 2016July 2011Newer by 56 months
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 G3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic G3

 PEN-F G3 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus PEN-F offers outside dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has proportions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic G3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the PEN-F versus the G3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and G3 is 84 and 83 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The picture underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and G3.

All in all, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus PEN-F to provide extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent PEN-F provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
75
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
70
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography factors
Panasonic G3 Street photography factors
84
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
75
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus via touch
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography info
Panasonic G3 Sports photography info
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
not so great battery (330 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
46
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Travel photography camera
75
provides focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (330 shots)
70
has focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery pack (270 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography information
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography information
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (330 shots)
62
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Panasonic G3
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
70
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic G3
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-01-27 2011-07-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII 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 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 11.00 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 gr (0.94 pounds) 336 gr (0.74 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 56
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 10.6
DXO Low light rating 894 667
Other
Battery life 330 images 270 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $1,000 $500