Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus FE-47 Comparison

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Panasonic ZS3

10 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

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Olympus FE-47

14 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

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Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus FE-47 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Panasonic and Olympus. Panasonic ZS3 was introduced to market in May 2009 and Olympus FE-47 was launched in January 2010. There is only 8 months difference between ZS3 and FE-47 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Panasonic ZS3 has a 10.0 MP and Olympus FE-47 has a 14.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-05-14

10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

2 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

229g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ7

Olympus FE-47 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2010-01-07

14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 1600

36-180 mm F3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens

2.7" Fixed Type Screen

continuous shooting

- 640 x 480 video resolution

204g. 98 x 61 x 27 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 over Olympus FE-47

Image Stabilization	Optical vs None	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Max ISO	6.400 vs 1.600	300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 36mm	11 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 180mm	120 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12× vs 5×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	3.30 vs 3.50	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.90 vs 5.60	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	5.3m vs 3.8m	1.5m longer range
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480	Higher Resolution Video

Reasons to choose Olympus FE-47 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Max Sensor Resolution	14 MP vs 10 MP	39% more pixels
Weight	204 g vs 229 g	25 g lighter

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Olympus FE-47

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Olympus FE-47

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	2.0fps vs fps	Slow shooting speeds
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

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Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus FE-47: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS3 has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″) and weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz) (including batteries). Olympus FE-47 has external dimensions of 98 x 61 x 27 mm (3.86 x 2.4 x 1.06″) and weighs 204 g (0.45 lb / 7.20 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47. Olympus FE-47 is 5mm narrower and 6mm thinner than Panasonic ZS3 but it is also 1mm taller.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47.

Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus FE-47 is 25g lighter than the Panasonic ZS3 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS3

FE-47

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS3

FE-47

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Lumix DMC-TZ7) nor Olympus FE-47 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS3's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Olympus FE-47's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus FE-47: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Olympus FE-47 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features TruePic III processor.

Below you can see the ZS3 and FE-47 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 Cameras

Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus FE-47 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Olympus FE-47 features a 36-180 mm F3.5-5.6 5× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS3 has 11mm wider coverage than the Olympus FE-47. At f3.30, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS3 has 120mm longer reach than the Olympus FE-47. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS3

FE-47

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS3

FE-47

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS3

FE-47

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS3

FE-47

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS3 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Olympus FE-47 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus FE-47 for Street Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Sports Photography

POOR

Olympus FE-47 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
11 Focus Points
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
180 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus FE-47 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
229g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
204g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus FE-47 for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus FE-47: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus FE-47 scores compare:

Panasonic ZS3

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #342 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #996 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Olympus FE-47

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #453 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1174 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS3 has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus FE-47 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3	Olympus FE-47
Brand	Panasonic	Olympus
Announced	2009-05-14	2010-01-07
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area	27.72mm²	27.72mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	14 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	4288 x 3216
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-300 mm (12×)	36-180 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-4.9	F3.5-5.6
Macro Focus Range	3cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	2.7"
Resolution	460k dots	230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.30 m (Auto ISO)	3.80 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps	n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	640 x 480
Video Formats	AVCHD Lite	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	229g	204g
Dimensions	103 x 60 x 33mm	98 x 61 x 27mm
Battery Life	n/a	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction