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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-2
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • New Model is Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is relatively similar and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was unveiled 3 years after the LZ20 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SH-3 matches up vs the LZ20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic LZ20

 SH-3 LZ20 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016July 2012More modern by 44 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus SH-3

 LZ20 SH-3 

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ20

 SH-3 LZ20 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 features exterior 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 LZ20 has sizing of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ20 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 dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SH-3 and the LZ20.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and LZ20 is 88 and 71 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The pic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-3 and LZ20.

As you can tell, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same MP so you should expect similar quality of files although you may want to factor the production date of the products into consideration. The more modern SH-3 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography factors
44
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
36
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography features
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography advice
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography features
74
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (271g)
offers touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
58
great battery life (380 shots)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (525mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (499g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography factors
55
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
45
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
great battery life (380 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Vlogging camera
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
25
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competition (499 grams)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-02-08 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus range 3cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 499g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 380 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $579 $250