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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic ZR3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was introduced 24 months later than the ZR3 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the VG-160 matches up against the ZR3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Panasonic ZR3

 VG-160 ZR3 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2010More recent by 24 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus VG-160

 ZR3 VG-160 

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic ZR3

 VG-160 ZR3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR3 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic ZR3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-160 and the ZR3.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and ZR3 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The graphic here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and ZR3.

As you have seen, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP so you can expect comparable quality of pictures but you would want to take the launch date of the cameras into account. The younger VG-160 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography info
33
resolution is good (14MP)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography factors
56
lighter than average in class (125g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-160
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
26
resolution is good (14MP)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (165 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
36
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average in class (125g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (165 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
64
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Landscape photography camera
36
quite wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery life (165 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging info
30
quite wide (26mm)
supports face detection focus
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus VG-160Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-160 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2010-01-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 7cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1300s
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in 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 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
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 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 165 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $90 $280