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Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Successor is Olympus VR-330
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
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Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic FS12, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is pretty close and they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VR-320 was manufactured 2 years after the FS12 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the VR-320 grades vs the FS12 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Panasonic FS12

 VR-320 FS12 
AnnouncedJuly 2011April 2009Newer by 28 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus VR-320

 FS12 VR-320 

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic FS12

 VR-320 FS12 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VR-320 has outer dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has specifications of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic FS12 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the VR-320 compared to the FS12.

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VR-320 and FS12 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching technical specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-320 and FS12.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Olympus VR-320 to render greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger VR-320 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (158g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography factors
70
lighter than competitors (158 grams)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than competitors (158 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone jack
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Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus VR-320Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-320 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2011-07-19 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 gr (0.35 pounds) 129 gr (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 ID LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $179 $228