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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Announced January 2012
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus VR-340 versus Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VR-340 was launched 13 months after the S3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the VR-340 grades versus the S3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Panasonic S3

 VR-340 S3 
LaunchedJanuary 2012January 2011More modern by 13 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus VR-340

 S3 VR-340 

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic S3

 VR-340 S3 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VR-340 versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the VR-340 against the S3.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VR-340 and S3 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The picture here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-340 and S3.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus VR-340 to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger VR-340 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography info
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography info
34
good MP (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Street photography highlights
63
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (125g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VR-340
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
69
lighter than competitors (125 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than others (117 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography details
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography details
43
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
38
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VR-340
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
33
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (125 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus VR-340Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VR-340 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" 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 - 250 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $130 $110