Olympus E-410 vs Panasonic ZR3

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-410 versus Panasonic ZR3, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-410 (10MP) and ZR3 (14MP) and the E-410 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-410 was revealed 3 years before the ZR3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-410 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-410 grades versus the ZR3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-410 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-410 Gallery and Panasonic ZR3 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-410 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-410 versus Panasonic ZR3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-410 against the ZR3.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-410 and ZR3 is 77 and 94 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The picture underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-410 and ZR3.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-410 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZR3 will render more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-410 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.