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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic FS12, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VR-340 was announced 2 years after the FS12 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the VR-340 scores vs the FS12 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Panasonic FS12

 VR-340 FS12 
RevealedJanuary 2012April 2009Newer by 34 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus VR-340

 FS12 VR-340 

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic FS12

 VR-340 FS12 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus VR-340 has external dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic FS12 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the VR-340 vs the FS12.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-340 and FS12 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The image here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-340 and FS12.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus VR-340 to offer more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern VR-340 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography advice
34
MP count good (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-340
Street photography with Panasonic FS12
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (125 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography highlights
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VR-340
Travel photography with Panasonic FS12
69
lighter than competition (125 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
43
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
28
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging features
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
33
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus VR-340Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-340 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 6.30 m
Flash modes 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 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 125 grams (0.28 lb) 129 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $130 $228