Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic G3

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus VR-330 versus Panasonic G3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the G3 (16MP) is fairly similar but the VR-330 (1/2.3") and G3 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The VR-330 was introduced 5 months before the G3 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the VR-330 matches up versus the G3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. The whole galleries are available at Olympus VR-330 Gallery and Panasonic G3 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-330 enjoys exterior 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 G3 has sizing of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-330 versus Panasonic G3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the VR-330 and the G3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the VR-330 and G3 is 94 and 83 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading specifications. The image underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-330 and G3.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VR-330 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic G3 will offer you more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a little more aggressively.