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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-145 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZR3, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-145 (14MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VG-145 was announced 19 months later than the ZR3 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the VG-145 grades against the ZR3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Panasonic ZR3

 VG-145 ZR3 
AnnouncedJuly 2011January 2010Fresher by 19 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus VG-145

 ZR3 VG-145 

Common features in the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZR3

 VG-145 ZR3 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-145 features outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZR3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the VG-145 versus the ZR3.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-145 and ZR3 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing only by going through specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-145 and ZR3.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size and the identical MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos but you should really take the launch date of the cameras into account. The younger VG-145 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography factors
33
decent MP (14MP)
provides face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Street photography information
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography information
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography information
26
decent MP (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VG-145
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
62
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (160 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography details
36
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery power (160 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-145
Vlogging with Panasonic ZR3
28
rather wide (26mm)
provides face detect focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
29
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus VG-145Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VG-145 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-07-27 2010-01-26
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD 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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.40 m 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG 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 120g (0.26 pounds) 159g (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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
Battery life 160 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $0 $280