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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • New Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic SZ3, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was announced 5 years prior to the SZ3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-3 matches up against the SZ3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-3 SZ3 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-3

 SZ3 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2013February 2008Fresher by 59 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-3 SZ3 
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 offers exterior dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has proportions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic SZ3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-3 against the SZ3.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and SZ3 is 56 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and SZ3.

To sum up, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-3 using its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Panasonic SZ3 will deliver extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography details
56
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
30
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
69
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (126 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography factors
55
weather proofing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
71
lighter than average in class (126 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography details
56
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
39
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging details
18
lack of video recording
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (126 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-02-20 2013-01-07
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 lb) 126g (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $670 $150