Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS35

The following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZS35, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and ZS35 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS35 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was released 6 years earlier than the ZS35 which is quite a serious 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 ZS35 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-3 grades against the ZS35 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-3 Gallery and Panasonic ZS35 Gallery.

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 enjoys exterior dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS35 has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 32mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 305 grams (0.67 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZS35 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-3 versus the ZS35.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and ZS35 is 56 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and ZS35.

Clearly, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS35 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.