Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LX3

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic LX3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and LX3 (10MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and LX3 (1/1.63") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The SH-3 was unveiled 7 years after the LX3 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SH-3 grades versus the LX3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SH-3 Gallery and Panasonic LX3 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 features outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic LX3 has sizing of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic LX3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SH-3 versus the LX3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and LX3 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and LX3.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SH-3 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus SH-3 will offer greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.