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Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus 8000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 182g - 95 x 62 x 22mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Also Known as mju Tough 8000
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus 8000 and Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the 8000 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The 8000 was manufactured 4 years before the SZ3 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the 8000 matches up vs the SZ3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 8000 over the Panasonic SZ3

 8000 SZ3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus 8000

 SZ3 8000 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2009More recent by 42 months

Common features in the Olympus 8000 and Panasonic SZ3

 8000 SZ3 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen size
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 8000 has got physical dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 8000 and Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the 8000 versus the SZ3.

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the 8000 and SZ3 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 8000 and SZ3.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic SZ3 to result in more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older 8000 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 8000 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography highlights
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus 8000 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography advice
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 8000
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 8000
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
61
weather sealing
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 8000 Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography information
35
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 8000 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus 8000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 8000 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus Stylus Tough 8000Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Also referred to as mju Tough 8000 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-07-01 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 -
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.1 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 2cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 182g (0.40 lb) 126g (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $380 $150