Olympus PEN
E-P3
 vs
Olympus PEN
E-PM1

Updated (May, 2013): Compare the Olympus Pen E-P5 vs Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-P3

57

  
Olympus PEN E-PM1

55

  

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P3

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
900 ms startup delay
Screen type
 OLED Screen
Bright and vivid
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PM1

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 60fps
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus E-P3
Screen type Has an OLED screen OLED vs LCD
Help
 OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Startup delay Less startup delay 900 ms vs 1800 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 536 ISO vs 499 ISO
Help
 The E-P3 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Olympus PEN E-P3 Learn more about
the Olympus E-P3

Advantages of the Olympus E-PM1
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 21 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 263 g vs 369 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 110x64x34 mm vs 122x69x34 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PM1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-P3
57 vs 55
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-P3.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Thickness Thin Help
1.3"
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
E-P3:10.1 EV
E-PM1:10.3 EV
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Color depth Poor color depth Help
E-P3:20.8 bits
E-PM1:21 bits
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
E-P3:51.0
E-PM1:52.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
E-P3:536 ISO
E-PM1:499 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$956 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PM1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P3
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-P3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Larger
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the PEN E-P3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN E-P3
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the PEN E-PM1

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-PM1

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