Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS80

Following is a extended overview of the Olympus VR-320 versus Panasonic ZS80, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the VR-320 (14MP) and ZS80 (20MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VR-320 was announced 7 years before the ZS80 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the VR-320 scores against the ZS80 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus VR-320 Gallery and Panasonic ZS80 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-320 offers outer dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS80 has proportions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-320 versus Panasonic ZS80 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the VR-320 compared to the ZS80.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-320 and ZS80 is 94 and 86 respectively.

Quite often, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-320 and ZS80.

Clearly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic ZS80 to offer extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged VR-320 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.