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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Released September 2006
  • New Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-400 versus Panasonic ZS3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-400 (10MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the E-400 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-400 was brought out 3 years prior to the ZS3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-400 grades versus the ZS3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-400 ZS3 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-400

 ZS3 E-400 
LaunchedMay 2009September 2006Fresher by 32 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kCrisper display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-400 ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-400 provides external dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-400 versus Panasonic ZS3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-400 and the ZS3.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and ZS3 is 77 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing specs. The visual underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-400 and ZS3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The E-400 has got the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The older E-400 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography factors
46
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
no manual control
sensor resolution low (10MP)
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
60
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-400 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography factors
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
45
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
35
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
30
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus E-400Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-400 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2006-09-14 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - AVCHD Lite
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 435 gr (0.96 lbs) 229 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $599 $200