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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Old Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-820UZ
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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-820UZ was released 3 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SP-820UZ matches up against the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic ZS3

 SP-820UZ ZS3 
IntroducedAugust 2012May 2009More modern by 40 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 ZS3 SP-820UZ 

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic ZS3

 SP-820UZ ZS3 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-820UZ has outer measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic ZS3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SP-820UZ and the ZS3.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and ZS3 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The image underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-820UZ and ZS3.

All in all, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SP-820UZ to provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger SP-820UZ will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography info
37
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than average in class (485g)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
33
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
55
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (485 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
63
lighter than average (229g)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
35
rather wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
35
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging info
25
rather wide (22mm)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (485g)
30
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-08-21 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
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 mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 15.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485g (1.07 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $299 $200