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Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Replacement is Olympus VR-330
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very close and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VR-320 was revealed 9 months prior to the ZS20 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the VR-320 grades against the ZS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Panasonic ZS20

 VR-320 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus VR-320

 ZS20 VR-320 
RevealedApril 2012July 2011More modern by 9 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic ZS20

 VR-320 ZS20 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-320 comes with outer measurements 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 ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the VR-320 versus the ZS20.

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and ZS20 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by viewing specifications. The picture here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-320 and ZS20.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of photos although you will need to factor the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged VR-320 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography info
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
30
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-320
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (158 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
65
image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than average (206g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography details
47
excellent zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 shots)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VR-320
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
70
lighter than competition (158g)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than average (206 grams)
includes focus by touch
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (260 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Landscape photography camera
42
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging advice
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (158g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus VR-320Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-320 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-07-19 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $179 $349