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Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
95 Imaging
34 Features
20 Overall
28
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96 Imaging
39 Features
29 Overall
35

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Also Known as X-935
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-5020 was announced 4 years before the SZ3 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the FE-5020 scores vs the SZ3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Panasonic SZ3

					

					

						
 FE-5020 SZ3 
					

				


				

					

						
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus FE-5020

					

					

						
 SZ3 FE-5020 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2009More modern by 42 months
					

				


				

					

						
Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic SZ3

					

					

						
 FE-5020 SZ3 
Manual focus  Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen  Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen  Neither offers Touch friendly screen
					

				

				

	
	
	
	

				

					

						
Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

					

					

						
If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-5020 offers outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has proportions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).
Look at the Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the FE-5020 and the SZ3.
Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison
Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FE-5020 and SZ3 is 95 and 96 respectively.
Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison					

				


				

					

						
Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

					

					

						
Usually, it can be hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-5020 and SZ3.
All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ3 to offer more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged FE-5020 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

						Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison
					

				


				

					

						
Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

					

					

											

					Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison				


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Photography Type Scores

					

				

				
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Olympus FE-5020
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
20
 no manual focus
 no manual exposure
 external flash not possible
 sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
30
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 manual focus not available
 no manual exposure
 external flash not possible
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary
Street Comparison
Olympus FE-5020 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography info
59
 weather sealing
 lighter than average in class (137 grams)
 no articulating screen
 no image stabilization
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
63
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors in class (126g)
 screen is fixed
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison
Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography advice
24
 weather sealing
 low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
 no shutter priority
 no image stabilization
 sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect AF
40
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 has tracking focus
 low frames per second (1.0 fps)
 no shutter priority mode
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Olympus FE-5020
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
64
 lighter than average in class (137g)
 weather sealing
 has built in flash
 decently wide (24mm)
 doesn't have Timelapse mode
 sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
 display is not selfie friendly
 sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
 lighter than competitors in class (126g)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 rather wide (25mm)
 very long reach (250mm)
 no Timelapse mode
 doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography highlights
31
 decently wide (24mm)
 weather sealing
 no manual focus
 can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
 tiny screen (2.7")
 no manual exposure
 no image stabilization
 sensor resolution low (12MP)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 doesn't have Timelapse mode
38
 rather wide (25mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 manual focus not available
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
 screen is small (2.7")
 no manual exposure
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
 no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus FE-5020
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
28
 decently wide (24mm)
 lighter than average in class (137g)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
 display is not selfie friendly
 no image stabilization
 low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
 doesn't have microphone port
31
 rather wide (25mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors in class (126 grams)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
 low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
 no microphone port
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

					

					

											


					

						Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus FE-5020Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus FE-5020 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Also referred to as X-935 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-07-22 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures    
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Touch to focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch capability    
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Change white balance    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 4.10 m 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 137 grams (0.30 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Storage media xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $160 $150