Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G85

The Olympus PEN E-P3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 (labelled Panasonic G80 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in June 2011 and September 2016. Both the E-P3 and the G85 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-P3		Panasonic G85
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses		Micro Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor		15.8 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60i Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-12,800		ISO 200-25,600
Viewfinder optional		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 614k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Swivel touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second		9 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
330 shots per battery charge		330 shots per battery charge
122 x 69 x 34 mm, 369 g		128 x 89 x 74 mm, 505 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-P3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-P3 and the Panasonic G85. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-P3 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the G85 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic G85 is notably larger (35 percent) than the Olympus E-P3. Moreover, the G85 is substantially heavier (37 percent) than the E-P3. It is noteworthy in this context that the G85 is splash and dust-proof, while the E-P3 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-P3	122 mm	69 mm	34 mm	369 g	330	n	Jun 2011	799
2.		Panasonic G85	128 mm	89 mm	74 mm	505 g	330	Y	Sep 2016	899
3.		Olympus E-M1 II	134 mm	91 mm	67 mm	574 g	440	Y	Sep 2016	1,999
4.		Olympus E-M5 II	124 mm	85 mm	45 mm	469 g	310	Y	Feb 2015	1,099
5.		Olympus E-M10 II	120 mm	83 mm	47 mm	390 g	320	n	Aug 2015	649
6.		Olympus E-M10	119 mm	82 mm	46 mm	396 g	320	n	Jan 2014	699
7.		Olympus E-P5	122 mm	69 mm	37 mm	420 g	330	n	May 2013	999
8.		Olympus XZ-2	113 mm	65 mm	48 mm	346 g	340	n	Sep 2012	599
9.		Olympus E-PL2	114 mm	72 mm	42 mm	362 g	280	n	Jan 2011	599
10.		Olympus E-PL3	110 mm	64 mm	37 mm	313 g	300	n	Jun 2011	599
11.		Olympus E-PM1	110 mm	64 mm	34 mm	265 g	330	n	Jun 2011	499
12.		Olympus E-PL1	115 mm	72 mm	42 mm	334 g	290	n	Feb 2010	599
13.		Olympus E-P1	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Jun 2009	799
14.		Olympus E-P2	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Nov 2009	799
15.		Panasonic G95	130 mm	94 mm	77 mm	536 g	290	Y	Apr 2019	999
16.		Panasonic GX85	122 mm	71 mm	44 mm	426 g	290	n	Apr 2016	799
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-P3 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the G85, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around CMOS sensors.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the G85 offers a higher resolution of 15.8 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the E-P3. This megapixels advantage translates into a 14 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the G85 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.77μm versus 4.29μm for the E-P3). However, it should be noted that the G85 is much more recent (by 5 years and 2 months) than the E-P3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the G85 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic G85 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the G85 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.2 inches or 58.3 x 43.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.7 x 35 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.3 x 11.5 inches or 38.9 x 29.2 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-P3 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus PEN E-P3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the G85 offers substantially better image quality than the E-P3 (overall score 20 points higher). The advantage is based on 2 bits higher color depth, 2.4 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Olympus E-P3	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	20.8	10.1	536	51
2.		Panasonic G85	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	22.8	12.5	656	71
3.		Olympus E-M1 II	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.7	12.8	1312	80
4.		Olympus E-M5 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.0	12.5	842	73
5.		Olympus E-M10 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.1	12.5	842	73
6.		Olympus E-M10	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.8	12.3	884	72
7.		Olympus E-P5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.8	12.4	895	72
8.		Olympus XZ-2	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.4	11.3	216	49
9.		Olympus E-PL2	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.4	10.2	573	55
10.		Olympus E-PL3	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	20.9	10.3	499	52
11.		Olympus E-PM1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	21.0	10.3	499	52
12.		Olympus E-PL1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.5	10.1	487	54
13.		Olympus E-P1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.4	10.4	536	55
14.		Olympus E-P2	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.5	10.4	505	56
15.		Panasonic G95	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
16.		Panasonic GX85	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	22.9	12.6	662	71

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the G85 provides a better video resolution than the E-P3. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/60i.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the G85 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-P3 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-P3 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-3. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic G85 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus E-P3	optional	n	3.0	614	fixed	Y	1/4000s	3.0	Y	Y
2.		Panasonic G85	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
3.		Olympus E-M1 II	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
4.		Olympus E-M5 II	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
5.		Olympus E-M10 II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
6.		Olympus E-M10	1440	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
7.		Olympus E-P5	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	Y	Y
8.		Olympus XZ-2	optional	n	3.0	920	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.0	Y	Y
9.		Olympus E-PL2	optional	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	Y
10.		Olympus E-PL3	optional	n	3.0	460	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	Y
11.		Olympus E-PM1	optional	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	Y
12.		Olympus E-PL1	optional	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/2000s	3.0	Y	Y
13.		Olympus E-P1	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	Y
14.		Olympus E-P2	optional	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	n	Y
15.		Panasonic G95	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic GX85	2765	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the G85 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Panasonic G85 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the E-P3 and the G85 write their files to SDXC cards. The G85 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the E-P3 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus E-P3	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Panasonic G85	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Olympus E-M1 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
4.		Olympus E-M5 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
5.		Olympus E-M10 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Olympus E-M10	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Olympus E-P5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Olympus XZ-2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-PL2	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus E-PL3	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus E-PM1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Olympus E-PL1	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus E-P1	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Olympus E-P2	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Panasonic G95	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Panasonic GX85	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the G85 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-P3 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the E-P3 and the G85 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The E-P3 was replaced by the Olympus E-P5, while the G85 was followed by the Panasonic G95. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-P3 and the Panasonic G85? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P3:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x69mm vs 128x89mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 136g or 27 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2011).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (15.8 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (20 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (2 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.4 EV of extra DR).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60i).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 614k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 2 months of technical progress since the E-P3 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G85 is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-P3 and the Panasonic G85 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-P3 or the G85. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-P3	..	83/100	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2011	799
2.		Panasonic G85	..	+ +	84/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	899
3.		Olympus E-M1 II	5/5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	1,999
4.		Olympus E-M5 II	5/5	+ +	81/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2015	1,099
5.		Olympus E-M10 II	4.5/5	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	Aug 2015	649
6.		Olympus E-M10	4/5	..	80/100	5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	699
7.		Olympus E-P5	5/5	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2013	999
8.		Olympus XZ-2	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	599
9.		Olympus E-PL2	3/5	83/100	71/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2011	599
10.		Olympus E-PL3	3/5	+ +	72/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	599
11.		Olympus E-PM1	..	86/100	71/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2011	499
12.		Olympus E-PL1	..	86/100	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	599
13.		Olympus E-P1	..	+	66/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2009	799
14.		Olympus E-P2	3/5	+	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Nov 2009	799
15.		Panasonic G95	4.5/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2019	999
16.		Panasonic GX85	4.5/5	+ +	82/100	5/5	5/5	Apr 2016	799
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic G85

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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