Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS3

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the VR-320 (14MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VR-320 was announced 2 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the VR-320 grades vs the ZS3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus VR-320 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. The whole galleries are available at Olympus VR-320 Gallery & Panasonic ZS3 Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus VR-320 features outer measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic ZS3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the VR-320 compared to the ZS3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and ZS3 is 94 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-320 and ZS3.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus VR-320 to render greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher VR-320 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.