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Olympus VR-330

 
Olympus VR-330 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus VR-320
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37

Olympus VR-330 overview

Olympus VR-330 is Olympus's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally released on February of 2011. The camera features a 14MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 4288 x 3216.

Olympus launched this model to upgrade the previous Olympus VR-320 (Read Full Comparison)

The VR-330 is ranked #183 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all around #843 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can try our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your personalized criteria.

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The following is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Olympus VR-330 history

The Olympus VR-330 comes with a history of related cameras. Underneath, you can discover all older and latest models as well as important features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-VH-410 front thumbnailOlympus VH-410
VR-330 vs VH-410
26-130mm
F2.8-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-VH-515 front thumbnailOlympus VH-515
VR-330 vs VH-515
26-130mm
F2.8-6.5
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Olympus-VR-340 front thumbnailOlympus VR-340
VR-330 vs VR-340
24-240mm
F3.0-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-VG-160 front thumbnailOlympus VG-160
VR-330 vs VG-160
26-130mm
F2.8-6.5
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-VR-320 front thumbnailOlympus VR-320
VR-330 vs VR-320
24-300mm
F3.0-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-VR-330 front thumbnailOlympus VR-33024-300mm
F3.0-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus VR-330 Pros and Cons

Here is a collection of good and bad points of the Olympus VR-330 based on factors that are typically seen as useful in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
comes with tracking focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good min ISO (80)
has built in flash
includes HDMI support
lighter than average in class (158 grams)
long reach (300mm)
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
focusing manually not possible
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of phase detect autofocus
lack of RAW format
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution screen (460 k dot)
missing headphone jack
missing mic jack
missing Time Lapse function
no articulating screen
no external flash support
no manual mode
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
sluggish at full zoom (f5.9)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
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Olympus VR-330 Sensor information

The Olympus VR-330 features the TruePic III processor chip. The specification of the sensor on the Olympus VR-330 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 4288 x 3216 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). In body stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter may cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 14 megapixels and includes a standard ISO range of 80 to 1600. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The image below displays the VR-330's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The VR-330 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Olympus VR-330 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus VR-330 dimensions

Olympus VR-330 weighs 0.35 lb (158 gr or 5.57 ounces) and the size of the camera is 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Olympus VR-330 is lighter compared to other rivals.

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The following is a photo of the Olympus VR-330 next to a softdrink to help you to have a feel for its size.

Olympus VR-330 dimensions scale

The top view below will highlight the button arrangement on the VR-330.

Olympus VR-330 topview buttons dials

Olympus VR-330 Lens information

The VR-330 comes with an inbuilt lens giving a focal range of 24-300mm giving it a 12.5 x zoom which is perfect and will enable you to zoom right in.

At it's widest 24mm, it offers an aperture of f3.0 and that's rather sluggish and not the best in low light situations and you will struggle to capture a shallow depth of field. You will also have to up your ISO setting causing noisy shots. On the long end, 300mm is phenomenal zoom and comes with f5.9 making it pretty sluggish and you will have to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus VR-330 Connectivity

The VR-330 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to copy files and usually adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.

Certain apps also provide a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external display. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery with the USB port.

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Olympus VR-330 Video information

The highest video quality on the Olympus VR-330 is 1280 x 720 and it can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful by today's requirements. You really should try to get at least FUll HD quality for video. The body doesn't include a mic and headphone jack so you get zero control over your sound. It is probably best to have a look at an alternative camera if you want better sound in your videos.

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Olympus VR-330 Weather Sealing

Olympus VR-330 doesn't have weather proofing so wet conditions can damage the camera.

Olympus VR-330 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus VR-330 features a 3" fixed screen with a resolution of 460k dots.

Unfortunately the screen isn't a touch screen.

Olympus VR-330 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The ViewFinder details regarding Olympus VR-330 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

In those bright outdoor conditions that make the camera screens washed out and hard to view, viewfinders will be quite helpful.

Olympus VR-330 Shutter information

The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Olympus VR-330 Flash and Hot shoe information

Olympus VR-330 includes just built in flash lacking external flash ability.

Olympus VR-330 Autofocus information

Olympus VR-330 includes only Contrast Based Auto Focus and lacks Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more quicker and precise compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera features Face detection which can be valuable for portraits.

It also has Tracking Auto Focus for objects on the move. Olympus VR-330 has not got manual focusing. Manual focusing mode can be good in low light situations or you need to have more exact control on focus.

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Olympus VR-330 Battery life

The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has the highest (600) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Here is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the best battery life:

Olympus VR-330 for different styles of photography

The following diagram provides a overview of the Olympus VR-330 for different styles of photography. To find out more, check out the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-330

The Olympus VR-330 gets a score of 33 which is bad, and means the camera is not very good for portraits. Taking portraits favors greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support in addition to the flexibility to work with off-camera flash.

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sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format

Olympus VR-330 Street photography factors

Coming in at a nice score of 62, the Olympus VR-330 is a very decent pick to use in street photography. A good street photography camera gives a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (158g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Sports photography with Olympus VR-330

A decent sports photography points tally of 47 means the Olympus VR-330 is somewhat acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera should have good autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography highlights

Portability is extremely crucial in getting a camera for travel. All round, the Olympus VR-330 gets a above average 70 for a travel camera which makes it a good pick for your travels.

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lighter than average in class (158 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)

Landscape photography with Olympus VR-330

When you're looking to choose a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most significant factor is going to be image quality. The Olympus VR-330 with it's bad grade of 42 for a landscape camera is not very good within the current marketplace.

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reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function

Vlogging with Olympus VR-330

A camera for vlogging should really have a articulating display screen, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Olympus VR-330 is not very good for vlogging as it receives a bad score of 32.

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relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (158g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port

Olympus VR-330 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the VR-330, here is a range of the top placed cameras that fall into the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line graph here shows you an overview of the VR-330 vs it's top scoring rivals listed above.

There are more cameras you may have a look at as alternative options. To go through a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Olympus
Model type
Olympus VR-330
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2011-02-08
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor
TruePic III
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution
4288 x 3216
RAW photos
Highest native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-300mm (12.5x)
Max aperture
f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing range
1cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inches
Resolution of screen
460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology
TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
4 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/2000 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
4.70 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE 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, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
158 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions
101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
Other
Battery ID
LI-42B
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC
Storage slots
Single
Price at launch
$220