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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G2
  • New Model is Panasonic G5
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic G3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the G3 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and G3 (Four Thirds) come with different sensor measurements.

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The SP-820UZ was released 14 months later than the G3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SP-820UZ grades against the G3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic G3

 SP-820UZ G3 
IntroducedAugust 2012July 2011More recent by 14 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 G3 SP-820UZ 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic G3

 SP-820UZ G3 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-820UZ has physical dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G3 has sizing of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic G3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-820UZ vs the G3.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and G3 is 69 and 83 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-820UZ and G3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-820UZ because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic G3 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent SP-820UZ should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Portrait photography camera
34
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
70
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography information
Panasonic G3 Street photography information
37
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others (485g)
75
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography info
Panasonic G3 Sports photography info
33
amazing zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (270 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Travel photography camera
55
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (485 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
70
comes with touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (270 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography details
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography details
35
rather wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
62
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (270 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera
25
rather wide (22mm)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
heavier than others (485 grams)
70
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic port
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic G3
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-21 2011-07-11
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 15.00 m 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485g (1.07 lbs) 336g (0.74 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 56
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 667
Other
Battery life - 270 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $299 $500