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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic ZS3, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The PEN-F was manufactured 6 years after the ZS3 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a short highlight of how the PEN-F scores against the ZS3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic ZS3

 PEN-F ZS3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016May 2009Newer by 82 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZS3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS3

 PEN-F ZS3 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F features physical measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F and the ZS3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and ZS3 is 84 and 91 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking specifications. The image underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and ZS3.

To sum up, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will give extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The newer PEN-F will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
75
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography factors
84
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography details
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
not so great battery power (330 shots)
has no phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
75
supports touch to focus
good MP (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (330 per charge)
63
lighter than others in class (229g)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography factors
76
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (330 shots)
35
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging info
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-27 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
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 20 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lb) 229 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,000 $200