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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was announced 8 months before the ZS3 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-520 grades against the ZS3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-520 ZS3 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS3 E-520 
LaunchedMay 2009August 2008More recent by 8 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-520 ZS3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-520 vs the ZS3.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and ZS3 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to see the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and ZS3.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-520 features the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
19
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography advice
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography info
52
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
63
lighter than others in class (229g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (650 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution (10MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-08-20 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing 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
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format - AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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 552g (1.22 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $200