Olympus PEN E-P3 vs Olympus PEN E-PM1 — Which Is Better?

The Olympus PEN E-PM1 is the easier camera to keep in a bag or a coat pocket, measuring 110 x 64 x 34 mm against 122 x 69 x 34 mm for the Olympus PEN E-P3. The weight gap is larger still: 265 g versus 369 g, a 104 g saving for the E-PM1. If you want a PEN that disappears into everyday carry, the smaller body is the practical pick here.

The two cameras share their core identity. Both are mirrorless PEN models announced on 30/06/2011, taking the same Micro 4/3 lenses, so any Micro 4/3 lens you already own fits either body. With no built-in viewfinder on either camera, both are framed through the rear screen.

The E-PM1 is the stronger choice for photographing moving subjects, shooting at 5.5 frames per second against 3 fps on the E-P3. That faster burst gives you a better chance of catching a child mid-stride or a dog turning towards the camera, where the E-P3's three-frame rhythm may leave the peak between shots.

Away from burst rate, the stills fundamentals are shared. Both capture 12.3 megapixels on a Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor, so both give the same room to crop a distant subject or enlarge a print. Each offers 35 autofocus points and in-body stabilisation, which steadies handheld shots with any mounted lens.

For family clips and casual movies, either PEN records AVCHD video to the same ceiling, so smoother motion is not a reason to pick one over the other. Full HD is the maximum resolution on both, and 60 fps is the maximum frame rate on both. Neither camera includes a built-in timelapse mode.

The E-P3 has the better shooting interface, with a 3 inch OLED screen of 614000 dots that also responds to touch. The E-PM1's 3 inch LCD offers 460000 dots and no touch input, so the E-P3 makes it easier to tap a focus point directly on your subject and shows finer detail when composing or reviewing images.

The E-P3 also carries a built-in flash for quick fill light at a party or indoors, while the E-PM1 has none. Both cameras support an external flash on the hot shoe, both offer live view, and neither includes GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or weather sealing.

Storage and power are shared specifications, so the same cards and battery spares serve either body. Both take a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card and use the same BLS-5 battery, rated at 330 shots. Neither body supports charging over USB.