Olympus E-330 vs Panasonic ZR3

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-330 and Panasonic ZR3, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-330 (7MP) and ZR3 (14MP) and the E-330 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-330 was unveiled 4 years before the ZR3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-330 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-330 scores against the ZR3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-330 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-330 Gallery and Panasonic ZR3 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-330 has exterior dimensions of 140mm x 87mm x 72mm (5.5" x 3.4" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-330 and Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-330 compared to the ZR3.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-330 and ZR3 is 65 and 94 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The picture underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-330 and ZR3.

Plainly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-330 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZR3 will result in greater detail having an extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-330 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.