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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZR3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and ZR3 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was brought out 19 months before the ZR3 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-420 grades against the ZR3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-420 ZR3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-420

 ZR3 E-420 
RevealedJanuary 2010June 2008More recent by 19 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-420 ZR3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 features external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR3 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-420 versus the ZR3.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and ZR3 is 77 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The visual below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and ZR3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-420 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZR3 will resolve greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography factors
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography details
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
low battery power (500 shots)
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography information
52
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery power (500 shots)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
64
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery power (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
37
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Panasonic ZR3
9
no video recording
29
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-06-23 2010-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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 file format - AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $999 $280