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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 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
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic ZR3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was manufactured 2 years after the ZR3 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the SP-820UZ scores against the ZR3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic ZR3

 SP-820UZ ZR3 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2010More modern by 32 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 ZR3 SP-820UZ 

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic ZR3

 SP-820UZ ZR3 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SP-820UZ provides external dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-820UZ vs the ZR3.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and ZR3 is 69 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-820UZ and ZR3.

Clearly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same MP and you should expect similar quality of photos however you should always factor the production date of the products into consideration. The newer SP-820UZ provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography highlights
34
decent MP (14MP)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
37
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competitors (485 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Sports photography camera
33
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography info
55
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (485g)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
64
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography advice
35
reasonably wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
37
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Vlogging camera
25
reasonably wide (22mm)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic jack
heavier than competitors (485 grams)
29
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2010-01-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type 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 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 15.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure 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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485 grams (1.07 pounds) 159 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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
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
Retail pricing $299 $280