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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS40
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS50
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS45, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was revealed 7 years before the ZS45 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-3 matches up against the ZS45 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-3 ZS45 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS45 E-3 
ReleasedJanuary 2015February 2008More recent by 83 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-3 ZS45 
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 has external measurements 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 ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS45 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 change dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-3 vs the ZS45.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and ZS45 is 56 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and ZS45.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-3 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will produce more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
37
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (249g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography factors
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
55
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery power (350 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography details
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
71
good battery power (350 per charge)
lighter than average in class (249g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography details
56
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
47
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good battery power (350 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging information
18
can't record video
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-02-20 2015-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 21
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 pounds) 249 grams (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 - 350 pictures
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
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $670 $300