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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Announced February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZS20, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was introduced 5 years earlier than the ZS20 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-3 grades against the ZS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-3 ZS20 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS20 E-3 
AnnouncedApril 2012February 2008More recent by 50 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-3 ZS20 

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 has physical measurements 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 ZS20 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZS20 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 dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-3 compared to the ZS20.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and ZS20 is 56 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through specs. The visual underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and ZS20.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will render greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography features
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
30
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
55
weather sealing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
68
lighter than others in class (206g)
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (260 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
tiny screen (2.5")
low resolution sensor (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery pack (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
18
no video
34
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-02-20 2012-04-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $670 $349