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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

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

Let's look closer at the Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VR-330 was revealed 23 months after the FS12 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the VR-330 scores versus the FS12 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Panasonic FS12

 VR-330 FS12 
RevealedFebruary 2011April 2009Newer by 23 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus VR-330

 FS12 VR-330 

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic FS12

 VR-330 FS12 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-330 provides outer measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has proportions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the VR-330 and the FS12.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-330 and FS12 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The pic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-330 and FS12.

All in all, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus VR-330 to resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent VR-330 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-330
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
33
decent MP (14MP)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Street photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Street photography factors
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (158 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
47
incredible zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography factors
70
lighter than others (158g)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (300mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography details
42
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging advice
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than others (158 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus VR-330Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-330 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-02-08 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 grams (0.35 lbs) 129 grams (0.28 lbs)
Physical 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $220 $228