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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Released January 2014
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SP-100 was introduced 4 years after the ZS3 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the SP-100 matches up against the ZS3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic ZS3

 SP-100 ZS3 
RevealedJanuary 2014May 2009More modern by 58 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus SP-100

 ZS3 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS3

 SP-100 ZS3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-100 offers 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) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SP-100 vs the ZS3.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-100 and ZS3 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The image below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-100 and ZS3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SP-100 to deliver greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern SP-100 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography information
42
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than competition (594 grams)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography info
53
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-100
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
53
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (594 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
63
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography highlights
47
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
35
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging advice
29
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition (594g)
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-01-29 2009-05-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dots -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
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, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 594 gr (1.31 pounds) 229 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 330 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $400 $200