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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Old 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
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was launched 10 months earlier than the ZS3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-420 matches up against the ZS3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-420 ZS3 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-420

 ZS3 E-420 
RevealedMay 2009June 2008More recent by 10 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-420 ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 offers exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-420 versus the ZS3.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and ZS3 is 77 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The visual below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and ZS3.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The E-420 has the larger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The older E-420 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography highlights
56
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (426g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography features
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
52
lighter than competitors (426g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (500 per charge)
MP count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than competitors (229g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography advice
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery pack (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
35
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
30
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-06-23 2009-05-14
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
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 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - AVCHD Lite
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lb) 229 grams (0.50 lb)
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 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 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $999 $200