Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic GF3

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic GF3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is very similar but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and GF3 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor size.

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The XZ-1 was unveiled 6 months earlier than the GF3 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the XZ-1 scores against the GF3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus XZ-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Panasonic GF3 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-1 has got physical dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic GF3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the XZ-1 against the GF3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and GF3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and GF3.

As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GF3 will deliver extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively.