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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Olympus VR-330
(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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus VR-320
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Olympus VR-330 versus Panasonic SZ1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VR-330 was launched 11 months before the SZ1 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the VR-330 scores vs the SZ1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Panasonic SZ1

 VR-330 SZ1 
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus VR-330

 SZ1 VR-330 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2011More modern by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic SZ1

 VR-330 SZ1 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VR-330 features external dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VR-330 versus Panasonic SZ1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the VR-330 compared to the SZ1.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VR-330 and SZ1 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing specifications. The image underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-330 and SZ1.

To sum up, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Panasonic SZ1 to render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged VR-330 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-330
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (158 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-330
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
47
excellent zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VR-330
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
70
lighter than competitors (158g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than competition (131g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography info
42
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Vlogging camera
32
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (158 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
32
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (131g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus VR-330Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VR-330 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 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 measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158 grams (0.35 pounds) 131 grams (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $220 $179