Clicky

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Announced January 2014
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic SZ3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-100 (16MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The SP-100 was announced 13 months later than the SZ3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the SP-100 matches up versus the SZ3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic SZ3

 SP-100 SZ3 
ReleasedJanuary 2014January 2013More recent by 13 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus SP-100

 SZ3 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic SZ3

 SP-100 SZ3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-100 has external dimensions of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic SZ3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the SP-100 vs the SZ3.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SP-100 and SZ3 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The visual underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-100 and SZ3.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution so you should expect comparable quality of photographs but you will want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The newer SP-100 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-100
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
30
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-100
Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
42
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competitors (594 grams)
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
53
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-100
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
53
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (594 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
71
lighter than competition in class (126g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography information
47
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse function
39
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-100
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
29
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors (594 grams)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-01-29 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920k dots -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 594 grams (1.31 lbs) 126 grams (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 250 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $400 $150