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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH4
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic GH3, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and GH3 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The PEN-F was launched 3 years after the GH3 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the PEN-F matches up versus the GH3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic GH3

 PEN-F GH3 
RevealedJanuary 2016September 2012Newer by 41 months
Display resolution1037k614kClearer display (+423k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 GH3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GH3

 PEN-F GH3 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F comes with physical dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH3 has measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic GH3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the PEN-F against the GH3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and GH3 is 84 and 66 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and GH3.

All in all, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus PEN-F to deliver more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer PEN-F is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography highlights
75
focusing manually
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography highlights
Panasonic GH3 Street photography highlights
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
65
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch focus
weather sealing
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Panasonic GH3 Sports photography details
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
63
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
75
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
71
good battery power (540 per charge)
weather sealing
features touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
terrible battery power (330 shots)
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging features
Panasonic GH3 Vlogging features
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of microphone support
65
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (550 grams)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GH3
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2016-01-27 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine VII 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - OLED Monitor with static touch control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,744k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.67x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest 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 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 550 grams (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 71
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 894 812
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 540 pictures
Form of battery 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 shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,000 $799