Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic S3

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly similar and both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was brought out 13 months after the S3 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the VG-160 scores versus the S3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The entire galleries are available at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Panasonic S3 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 features outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic S3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 and the S3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and S3 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Often, its hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-160 and S3.

Clearly, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution and you should expect similar quality of photos however you really should consider the production date of the products into consideration. The more recent VG-160 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.