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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed January 2016
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
  • New Model is Panasonic GF5
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic GF3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and GF3 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The PEN-F was introduced 4 years later than the GF3 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the PEN-F matches up versus the GF3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic GF3

 PEN-F GF3 
ReleasedJanuary 2016August 2011Fresher by 55 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 GF3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GF3

 PEN-F GF3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F features outside dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic GF3 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic GF3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the PEN-F versus the GF3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and GF3 is 84 and 90 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specs. The visual below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and GF3.

All in all, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus PEN-F to give more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent PEN-F should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
75
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
55
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
Street photography with Panasonic GF3
84
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
terrible battery (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography information
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography information
75
provides focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (330 shots)
58
offers touch focus
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography information
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography information
76
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
terrible battery (330 per charge)
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing microphone support
32
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2016-01-27 2011-08-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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 grams (0.94 lbs) 264 grams (0.58 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 50
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 10.1
DXO Low light rating 894 459
Other
Battery life 330 photos 300 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $1,000 $360