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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Revealed December 2012
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is pretty close but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and ZR3 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-2 iHS was launched 2 years after the ZR3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up vs the ZR3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic ZR3

 XZ-2 iHS ZR3 
AnnouncedDecember 2012January 2010Newer by 36 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 ZR3 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic ZR3

 XZ-2 iHS ZR3 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS features physical measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the ZR3.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and ZR3 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specs. The image below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and ZR3.

All in all, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZR3 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer XZ-2 iHS provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography features
46
has manual focus
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
28
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography features
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography features
66
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (346g)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery pack (340 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
36
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
61
good battery pack (340 CIPA)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than average in class (346 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
64
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR3
55
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (340 shots)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging features
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging features
36
relatively wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
heavier than average in class (346 grams)
29
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-12-18 2010-01-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
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 346 gr (0.76 pounds) 159 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 216 not tested
Other
Battery life 340 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $450 $280