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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-P3 was brought out 2 years later than the ZS3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-P3 matches up versus the ZS3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-P3 ZS3 
IntroducedAugust 2011May 2009Fresher by 28 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display resolution614k460kCrisper display (+154k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-P3

 ZS3 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-P3 ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 comes with exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the ZS3.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and ZS3 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and ZS3.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-P3 will give greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The younger E-P3 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
no moving screen
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
60
has focus by touch
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
63
lighter than competition in class (229g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
35
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
30
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-08-17 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
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 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
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 369g (0.81 pounds) 229g (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $0 $200