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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Revealed January 2012
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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was revealed 2 years later than the ZS3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the VG-160 scores versus the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Panasonic ZS3

 VG-160 ZS3 
LaunchedJanuary 2012May 2009More recent by 33 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus VG-160

 ZS3 VG-160 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic ZS3

 VG-160 ZS3 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys external 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 ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 compared to the ZS3.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and ZS3 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by checking specifications. The visual below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-160 and ZS3.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus VG-160 to give greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The newer VG-160 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography advice
34
MP count good (14MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography information
56
lighter than average (125 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography information
27
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (165 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
66
lighter than average (125 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (165 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
37
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery (165 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging info
30
decently wide (26mm)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than average (125g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus VG-160Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-160 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-10 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
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 support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 7cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125g (0.28 lb) 229g (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 type Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $90 $200