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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Launched January 2012
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase 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-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is fairly close and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The VR-340 was brought out 6 months earlier than the SZ5 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the VR-340 grades against the SZ5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Panasonic SZ5

 VR-340 SZ5 
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus VR-340

 SZ5 VR-340 

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic SZ5

 VR-340 SZ5 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2012Same generation
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 features outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic SZ5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the VR-340 and the SZ5.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VR-340 and SZ5 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-340 and SZ5.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Olympus VR-340 to result in extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-340
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
34
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
34
good MP (14MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (125 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography information
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than others (125 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VR-340
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
43
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than others (125 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
32
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus VR-340 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus VR-340Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus VR-340 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-10 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 125g (0.28 lbs) 136g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $130 $195