Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

54

"The JPEGs aren't uniformly great; in our testing, even shots at ISO 160 had some noise in shadow areas."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the DMC-GF3's iso-noise
"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 delivers excellent performance and good-to-great photo quality."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the DMC-GF3's image-quality

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
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
312 ms shutter lag
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Olympus PEN E-PL1

44

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 54.0 vs 50.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $394.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $134 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 312 ms vs 820 ms
Help
2.6x less delay when taking photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
Record movies without worrying about focus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Startup delay Less startup delay 1900 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DMC-GF3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Size Smaller 107x67x32 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 320 shots vs 290 shots
Help
More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 264 g vs 334 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
44 vs 54
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3.

advice

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0
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by Gareth-Egerton 3 days ago
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Looking to upgrade from 2008 Sony H10.  The priorities for me are speed (capture action shots), ...

0
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by Segun-Gomes last month
Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Semi Pro, Fast response, Manual setting and fast and sharp autofocus will be handy

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-GF3:

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0
votes
by trixie-bird last week
Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Intermediate.  Want to take pictures or people and landscapes.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-PL1:$259.99
DMC-GF3:$394.00
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
PEN E-PL1:2200 ms
DMC-GF3:1900 ms
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
PEN E-PL1:12.2 MP
DMC-GF3:12 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
10.1 EV
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL1:230k dots
DMC-GF3:460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-PL1:54.0
DMC-GF3:50.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO
DMC-GF3:459 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Significantly larger
Battery life Shorter battery life
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Longest exposure Significantly shorter max exposures

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

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