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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Released August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • New Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic S3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was announced 20 months later than the S3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SP-820UZ scores against the S3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic S3

 SP-820UZ S3 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2011More recent by 20 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 S3 SP-820UZ 

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic S3

 SP-820UZ S3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-820UZ enjoys outside measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SP-820UZ vs the S3.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and S3 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at specifications. The photograph here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and S3.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical MP and you should expect similar quality of images but you have to consider the production date of the products into consideration. The fresher SP-820UZ provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
34
good megapixels (14MP)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
28
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Street photography with Panasonic S3
37
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average in class (485 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography details
Panasonic S3 Sports photography details
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good megapixels (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography advice
Panasonic S3 Travel photography advice
55
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (22mm)
long zoom (896mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (485 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
68
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
35
decently wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse mode
38
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging features
Panasonic S3 Vlogging features
25
decently wide (22mm)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no microphone port
more heavy than average in class (485 grams)
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic S3
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type 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 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485 gr (1.07 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 - 250 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $299 $110