Olympus PEN E-PM1

44

vs
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

38
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PM1

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
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Olympus E-PM1
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Color depth Better color depth 21 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 52.0 vs 50.0
Help
 Almost the same
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 499 ISO vs 459 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Focus points Slightly more focus points 35 vs 23
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 330 shots vs 320 shots
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 3.8 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1800 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when turning on
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $279.00 vs $509.69
Help
 The best price we've seen is $231 cheaper (around 50% less)
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PM1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
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
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.3" vs 1.3"
Help
 Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus PEN E-PM1
44 vs 38
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PM1.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
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
Size Fairly small Help
E-PM1:110x64x34 mm
DMC-GF3:107x67x32 mm
Thickness Thin Help
1.3"
Weight Light weight Help
E-PM1:263 g
DMC-GF3:264 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
E-PM1:12.2 MP
DMC-GF3:12 MP
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
E-PM1:10.3 EV
DMC-GF3:10.1 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-PM1:21 bits
DMC-GF3:20.6 bits
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
460k dots
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
E-PM1:52.0
DMC-GF3:50.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
E-PM1:499 ISO
DMC-GF3:459 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PM1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the PEN E-PM1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 - $348 with 10-30mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
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-PM1
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$234 - $235 body only

$388 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$340 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PM1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$308 - $549 with 20-50mm lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the NX1000 vs the PEN E-PM1
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$627 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PM1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$491 body only
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Significantly larger
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

discussion

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