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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is very similar but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was manufactured 7 years prior to the ZS50 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-3 matches up versus the ZS50 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-3 ZS50 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS50 E-3 
LaunchedJanuary 2015February 2008Newer by 83 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-3 ZS50 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 provides outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS50 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-3 and the ZS50.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and ZS50 is 56 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading specs. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and ZS50.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS50 will offer more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
42
manual focus
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography highlights
69
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (243 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography highlights
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
43
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography features
55
weather sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
66
lighter than average (243g)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS50
56
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
no Time Lapse mode
51
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging highlights
18
no video shooting
34
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (243 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-02-20 2015-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 243g (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 44
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 11.2
DXO Low light rating 571 138
Other
Battery life - 300 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $670 $350