Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic LX3

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic LX3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and LX3 (10MP) and the SP-100 (1/2.3") and LX3 (1/1.63") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-100 was launched 5 years after the LX3 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SP-100 matches up vs the LX3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SP-100 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SP-100 Gallery & Panasonic LX3 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-100 provides exterior measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") accompanied by a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Panasonic LX3 has proportions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic LX3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SP-100 against the LX3.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-100 and LX3 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The picture below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-100 and LX3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SP-100 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SP-100 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The younger SP-100 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.