Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FH8

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic FH8, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is fairly well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VR-320 was revealed 5 months earlier than the FH8 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the VR-320 scores vs the FH8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VR-320 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8. The full galleries are available at Olympus VR-320 Gallery & Panasonic FH8 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus VR-320 enjoys outer measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic FH8 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the VR-320 and the FH8.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VR-320 and FH8 is 94 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, its tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The visual underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-320 and FH8.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic FH8 to resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively.