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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Introduced August 2009
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic S3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very close but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-600 was announced 16 months before the S3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-600 scores versus the S3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Panasonic S3

 E-600 S3 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-600

 S3 E-600 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011August 2009More modern by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic S3

 E-600 S3 
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display size
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-600 comes with exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic S3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-600 vs the S3.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-600 and S3 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-600 and S3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-600 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic S3 will render greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-600 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-600
Portrait photography with Panasonic S3
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
28
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-600
Street photography with Panasonic S3
76
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-600
Sports photography with Panasonic S3
48
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (500 shots)
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
53
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (500 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
68
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-600
Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
53
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery (500 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
38
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-600
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
18
no video shooting
31
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus E-600Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-600 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-30 2011-01-05
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 7 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 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 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 515 gr (1.14 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 541 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 shots 250 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $0 $110