Both Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF3 have Four Thirds sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.
Below you can see the E-PL2 and GF3 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF3 Cameras
Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF3 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF3 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, E-PL2 has scored 55, 5 points higher than GF3.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Olympus E-PL2
55
21.4 bits
10.2 Evs
573 ISO
Panasonic GF3
50
20.6 bits
10.1 Evs
459 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Olympus E-PL2
or the
Panasonic GF3 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
