Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS 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 TG-630 iHS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Panasonic ZS3, which was introduced in May 2009 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Olympus TG-630 iHS, which was introduced in January 2013 is a Waterproof camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, ZS3 is 4 years older than TG-630 iHS. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS 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 TG-630 iHS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-01-08

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

28-140 mm F3.9-5.9 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

5 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

167g. 98 x 66 x 22 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS 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 TG-630 iHS

Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 28mm	3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 140mm	160 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12× vs 5�	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	3.30 vs 3.90	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.90 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele

Reasons to choose Olympus TG-630 iHS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 10 MP	19% more pixels
Continuous Shooting	5.0fps vs 2.0fps	3 fps faster
Weight	167 g vs 229 g	62 g lighter
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Sensor-shift	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS

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 Resolution	460k dots vs 460k dots	Low resolution screens
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS: 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 TG-630 iHS 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 TG-630 iHS has external dimensions of 98 x 66 x 22 mm (3.86 x 2.6 x 0.87″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS. Olympus TG-630 iHS is 5mm narrower and 11mm thinner than Panasonic ZS3 but it is also 6mm taller.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS.

Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus TG-630 iHS is significantly lighter (62g ) than the Panasonic ZS3 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

ZS3

TG-630 iHS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

ZS3

TG-630 iHS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

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

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS: 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 TG-630 iHS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the ZS3 and TG-630 iHS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS Cameras

Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Olympus TG-630 iHS features a 28-140 mm F3.9-5.9 5� zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS3 has 3mm wider coverage than the Olympus TG-630 iHS. At f3.30, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS3 has 160mm longer reach than the Olympus TG-630 iHS. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS3

TG-630 iHS

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS3

TG-630 iHS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS3

TG-630 iHS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS3

TG-630 iHS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS3 and Olympus TG-630 iHS 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 TG-630 iHS 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

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
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 TG-630 iHS for Street Photography

GOOD

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

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Sports Photography

POOR

Olympus TG-630 iHS 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

Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
140 mm Tele Lens
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
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus TG-630 iHS for Daily Photography

GOOD

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
167g
Body Thickness 22mm
Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus TG-630 iHS 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

Environmental Sealings
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS: 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 TG-630 iHS, 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 TG-630 iHS 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 TG-630 iHS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #117 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #601 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Olympus TG-630 iHS is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Panasonic ZS3 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Panasonic ZS3

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Olympus TG-630 iHS

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Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3	Olympus TG-630 iHS
Brand	Panasonic	Olympus
Announced	2009-05-14	2013-01-08
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	27.72mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	3968 x 2976
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	6,400 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×)	28-140 mm (5�)
Max Aperture	F3.3-4.9	F3.9-5.9
Macro Focus Range	3cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	460k dots	460k 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	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.30 m (Auto ISO)	n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps	5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	AVCHD Lite	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	229g	167g
Dimensions	103 x 60 x 33mm	98 x 66 x 22mm
Battery Life	n/a	220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction