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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS3, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is very close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was introduced 14 months prior to the ZS3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-3 scores versus the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-3 ZS3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS3 E-3 
AnnouncedMay 2009February 2008Newer by 14 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-3 ZS3 
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 offers physical dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-3 compared to the ZS3.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and ZS3 is 56 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The pic here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and ZS3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer the same exact megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The E-3 contains the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography details
69
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
57
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
55
weather sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
63
lighter than others (229g)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography info
56
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
small screen (2.5 inch)
MP count low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging features
18
can't record video
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-02-20 2009-05-14
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 - AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $670 $200