Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS200

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS200, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the VR-320 (14MP) and ZS200 (20MP) and the VR-320 (1/2.3") and ZS200 (1") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The VR-320 was introduced 7 years earlier than the ZS200 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the VR-320 matches up vs the ZS200 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus VR-320 Gallery and Panasonic ZS200 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-320 has physical measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS200 has sizing of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS200 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the VR-320 compared to the ZS200.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and ZS200 is 94 and 86 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The graphic underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-320 and ZS200.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The VR-320 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic ZS200 will provide you with extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older VR-320 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.