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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus VR-320
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Here is a detailed review of the Olympus VR-330 versus Panasonic S2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VR-330 was revealed 11 months before the S2 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the VR-330 scores vs the S2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Panasonic S2

 VR-330 S2 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus VR-330

 S2 VR-330 
RevealedJanuary 2012February 2011Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic S2

 VR-330 S2 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-330 enjoys physical dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VR-330 versus Panasonic S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the VR-330 and the S2.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-330 and S2 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by going over specs. The photograph underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-330 and S2.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same exact MP and you can expect similar quality of files although you really should factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The older VR-330 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count good (14MP)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Street photography factors
Panasonic S2 Street photography factors
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (158g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (112g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Sports photography advice
Panasonic S2 Sports photography advice
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
great battery (280 CIPA)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (300mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
great battery (280 per charge)
lighter than others in class (112 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Landscape photography camera
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse mode
41
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
great battery (280 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VR-330
Vlogging with Panasonic S2
32
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (112 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus VR-330Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-330 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-02-08 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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) 112 grams (0.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 - 280 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $220 $109