Olympus PEN E-P1 vs Panasonic DMC-LX3

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

Better image quality

55.0

39.0

More than 40% better image quality

Has interchangeable lenses

Yes

Can take advantage of a variety of lenses

Better color depth

21.4 bits

19.6 bits

Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color

Significantly larger sensor

Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm

1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm

More than 4.5x larger sensor

Lower noise at high ISO

536 ISO

94 ISO

The PEN E-P1 has excellent image quality 2.5 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-LX3

Higher true resolution

12.2 MP

10 MP

Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos

Has a CMOS-family sensor

NMOS

CCD

CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images

Significantly faster max shutter speed

1/4000s

1/2000s

2x faster max shutter speed

Cheaper

$184.49

$555.27

The best price we've seen is $371 cheaper (3x less)

Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX3

Supports 24p

Yes

Get that real film feel

Higher resolution screen

460k dots

230k dots

2x higher resolution screen

Better image stabilization

Lens

Sensor shift

Less risk of blur

Built-in flash

Yes

A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light

Smaller

109x60x27 mm

121x70x36 mm

More than 40% smaller

More dynamic range

10.8 EV

10.4 EV

0.4 f-stops more dynamic range

Lighter

265 g

355 g

Around 30% lighter

Thinner

1.1"

1.4"

Around 30% thinner

Has boost ISO

6,400 ISO

None

Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image

Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX3

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P1

35	vs	61
Explain scores

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a pro digicam.

advice

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I am considering either the Olympus PEN E-P1 or the Panasonic DMC-LX3,

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	RAW support
	Better editing

	Support external flash
	Better lighting

	Very long exposure times
	60 seconds

Poor dynamic range

PEN E-P1:	10.4 EV
DMC-LX3:	10.8 EV

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

	Neither camera can take 3D photos
	No 3d support

HD (720p) video

PEN E-P1:	720p @ 30fps
DMC-LX3:	720p @ 24fps

Low image quality

PEN E-P1:	55.0
DMC-LX3:	39.0

dxomark

competitors

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Records higher quality movies

Records high-speed movies

Has a slower max shutter speed

Much shorter exposures

Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Has in-camera HDR

Has a slower max shutter speed

Much shorter exposures

Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Doesn't have image stabilization

Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity

Doesn't have image stabilization

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Records higher quality movies

Shoots faster continuously

Significantly shorter exposures

Is thicker

Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Records higher quality movies

Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity

Doesn't support an external flash

Doesn't have image stabilization

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P1

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Better color depth

Slightly more expensive

Compare the PEN E-P2 vs the PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Has an OLED screen

Higher resolution movies

Slightly worse image quality

Worse color depth

Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Higher resolution movies

Takes 3D photos

Slightly worse image quality

Worse color depth

Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Higher resolution movies

Has a flip-out screen

Slightly worse image quality

Worse color depth

Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Shoots faster

Slightly better image quality

No 24p support

Larger

Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam

Better image quality

Better color depth

Significantly worse wide angle

No 24p support

Compare the PowerShot S90 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Has a flip-out screen

Has in-camera HDR

Significantly narrower aperture

Significantly worse wide angle

Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Has an OLED screen

Wider aperture

Significantly worse wide angle

No 24p support

Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

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OlympusPEN E-P1 vs Panasonic LumixDMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Olympus PEN E-P1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX3

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

advice

Need help deciding?

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Canon Powershot S100

Canon PowerShot S95

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot G12

Olympus XZ-1

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discussion

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Olympus
PEN E-P1
vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX3