Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZR3

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.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. The complete galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Panasonic ZR3 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.