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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
94 Imaging
37 Features
38 Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95 Imaging
37 Features
34 Overall
35

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus VR-320
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is fairly close and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VR-330 was released 17 months earlier than the SZ5 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the VR-330 grades against the SZ5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Panasonic SZ5

		

		

			
 VR-330 SZ5 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus VR-330

		

		

			
 SZ5 VR-330 
RevealedJuly 2012February 2011More modern by 17 months
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic SZ5

		

		

			
 VR-330 SZ5 
Manual focus  No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen  Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Neither includes Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-330 features physical dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has sizing of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).
Look at the Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the VR-330 and the SZ5.
Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison
Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the VR-330 and SZ5 is 94 and 95 respectively.
Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Often, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The image below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-330 and SZ5.
Clearly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of images though you really should consider the production date  of the cameras into account. The more aged VR-330 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.
	
			Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Olympus VR-330 as a Portrait photography camera
 Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
33
 decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
 features face detect focus
 manual focus not available
 lack of manual mode
 no external flash support
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
33
 megapixel count good (14MP)
 includes face detect focus
 lack of manual focus
 no manual control
 external flash not possible
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary
Street Comparison
Olympus VR-330 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography information
62
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 lighter than average in class (158g)
 screen does not articulate
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
63
 image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors (136g)
 no articulating screen
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus VR-330
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
47
 incredible zoom range (24-300mm  12.5 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
 features tracking focus
 lack of shutter priority mode
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect auto focus
39
 image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (14MP)
 includes tracking focus
 max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
 no shutter priority
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison
Olympus VR-330 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography information
70
 lighter than average in class (158g)
 decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 great zoom (300mm)
 lack of Timelapse function
 does not posses selfie friendly screen
 sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
70
 lighter than competitors (136g)
 megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 relatively wide (25mm)
 great zoom (250mm)
 doesn't have Timelapse function
 display isn't selfie friendly
 slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
42
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 nice screen size (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
 manual focus not available
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
 lack of manual mode
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 lack of Timelapse function
42
 relatively wide (25mm)
 screen size is good (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (14MP)
 lack of manual focus
 cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f3.1)
 no manual control
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
 doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
 Olympus VR-330 as a Vlogging camera
 Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
32
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detect focus
 lighter than average in class (158g)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
 does not posses selfie friendly screen
 low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
 lack of microphone support
32
 relatively wide (25mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 includes face detect focus
 lighter than competitors (136g)
 slow max aperture (f3.1)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
 doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus VR-330Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VR-330 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-02-08 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
Autofocus touch    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Tracking autofocus    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect focus    
Contract detect focus    
Phase detect focus    
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash range 4.70 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash    
AE bracketing    
WB 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) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 158 grams (0.35 lb) 136 grams (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $220 $195