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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced August 2009
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
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-600 versus Panasonic ZR3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-600 was announced 4 months earlier than the ZR3 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-600 grades vs the ZR3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-600 ZR3 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-600

 ZR3 E-600 

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-600 ZR3 
IntroducedAugust 2009January 2010Similar generation
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display measurement
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-600 comes with outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-600 versus Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-600 against the ZR3.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-600 and ZR3 is 71 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The visual underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-600 and ZR3.

All in all, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-600 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZR3 will give greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Street photography camera
76
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Sports photography camera
48
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Travel photography camera
53
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
bad battery power (500 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
64
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Landscape photography camera
53
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-600 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging highlights
18
no video recording
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus E-600Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-600 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-08-30 2010-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface 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
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 7 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 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 515 grams (1.14 pounds) 159 grams (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $280