Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic G3

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic G3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and G3 (16MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and G3 (Four Thirds) come with different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was introduced 5 months earlier than the G3 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the XZ-1 scores vs the G3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus XZ-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Panasonic G3 Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-1 has got physical measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and 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).

Look at the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic G3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the XZ-1 and the G3.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and G3 is 88 and 83 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specifications. The picture here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-1 and G3.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-1 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic G3 will offer you more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively.