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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Previous Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Updated by Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Updated by Panasonic GF5
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GF3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is fairly close but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) use different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SP-820UZ was revealed 13 months later than the GF3 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the SP-820UZ scores versus the GF3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic GF3

 SP-820UZ GF3 
AnnouncedAugust 2012August 2011More recent by 13 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 GF3 SP-820UZ 
Manually focus More exact focus
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GF3

 SP-820UZ GF3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-820UZ provides external dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GF3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-820UZ and the GF3.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and GF3 is 69 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The photograph here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-820UZ and GF3.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SP-820UZ having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus SP-820UZ will render more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent SP-820UZ should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
55
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Street photography with Panasonic GF3
37
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than others (485 grams)
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
33
excellent zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography information
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography information
55
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (22mm)
very long zoom (896mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (485g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
58
boasts touch to focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Landscape photography camera
35
decently wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging factors
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging factors
25
decently wide (22mm)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing microphone socket
more heavy than others (485g)
32
touchscreen capability
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-08-21 2011-08-11
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Max aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 15.00 m 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485g (1.07 pounds) 264g (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 459
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $299 $360