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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZR1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was introduced 17 months earlier than the ZR1 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-3 scores against the ZR1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-3 ZR1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-3

 ZR1 E-3 
IntroducedJuly 2009February 2008More modern by 17 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-3 ZR1 
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 has got exterior dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZR1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-3 versus the ZR1.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and ZR1 is 56 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The pic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and ZR1.

As you can see, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZR1 will give you more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography features
56
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography info
69
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather sealing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
57
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is small (2.5")
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
32
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging factors
18
no video
28
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also called - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-02-20 2009-07-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Venus Engine V
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 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 158 grams (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $670 $280