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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 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
  • Launched February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The E-3 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the ZS5 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-3 matches up versus the ZS5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-3 ZS5 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS5 E-3 
AnnouncedJune 2010February 2008More modern by 28 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-3 ZS5 
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 enjoys outside measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-3 and the ZS5.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and ZS5 is 56 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The pic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and ZS5.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS5 will result in greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography advice
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
27
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS5
69
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (214 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography highlights
55
weather sealing
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
63
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography highlights
56
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
33
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging info
18
can't shoot video
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-02-20 2010-06-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 pounds) 214g (0.47 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $670 $300