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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Older Model is Olympus VR-320
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VR-330 was manufactured 14 months before the ZS20 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the VR-330 matches up against the ZS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Panasonic ZS20

 VR-330 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus VR-330

 ZS20 VR-330 
RevealedApril 2012February 2011More modern by 14 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic ZS20

 VR-330 ZS20 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-330 comes with outer 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 ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic ZS20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the VR-330 vs the ZS20.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-330 and ZS20 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The image here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-330 and ZS20.

As you can see, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of files however you should consider the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged VR-330 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
30
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography advice
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (158g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography features
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography information
70
lighter than others (158 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
offers touch focus
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
42
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
42
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging advice
32
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than others (158g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus VR-330 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus VR-330Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-330 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-08 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 grams (0.35 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 - 260 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
Pricing at launch $220 $349