Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ82D
The Olympus E-3 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82D are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in October 2007 and July 2024. The E-3 is a DSLR, while the FZ82D is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-3) and a 1/2.3-inch (FZ82D) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 18 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Check E-3 offers at
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Check FZ82D price at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-3 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-3 and the Panasonic FZ82D are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.



If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic FZ82D is notably smaller (26 percent) than the Olympus E-3. It is worth mentioning in this context that the E-3 is splash and dust resistant, while the FZ82D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the FZ82D has a lens built in, whereas the E-3 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-3 and their specifications in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.
Concerning battery life, the E-3 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the FZ82D can take 330 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BMB9 power pack. The power pack in the FZ82D can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-3 | 142 mm | 116 mm | 75 mm | 876 g | 750 | Y | Oct 2007 | EUR 1 749 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Panasonic FZ82D | 130 mm | 94 mm | 119 mm | 616 g | 330 | n | Jul 2024 | EUR 479 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Nikon D300 | 147 mm | 114 mm | 74 mm | 925 g | 1000 | Y | Aug 2007 | EUR 1 829 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Olympus E-1 | 141 mm | 104 mm | 81 mm | 738 g | 750 | Y | Jun 2003 | EUR 1 999 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Olympus E-5 | 142 mm | 117 mm | 75 mm | 873 g | 750 | Y | Sep 2010 | EUR 1 499 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Olympus E-30 | 142 mm | 108 mm | 75 mm | 701 g | 750 | n | Nov 2008 | EUR 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Olympus E-410 | 130 mm | 91 mm | 53 mm | 435 g | 500 | n | Mar 2007 | EUR 699 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Olympus E-420 | 130 mm | 91 mm | 53 mm | 440 g | 500 | n | Mar 2008 | EUR 499 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Olympus E-510 | 136 mm | 92 mm | 68 mm | 538 g | 750 | n | Mar 2007 | EUR 799 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Olympus E-520 | 136 mm | 92 mm | 68 mm | 535 g | 750 | n | May 2008 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Olympus E-600 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 60 mm | 535 g | 500 | n | Aug 2009 | EUR 399 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Olympus E-620 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 60 mm | 521 g | 500 | n | Feb 2009 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Panasonic FZ82 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 119 mm | 616 g | 330 | n | Jan 2017 | EUR 349 | amazon.com | |
| 14. | Panasonic FZ100 | 124 mm | 82 mm | 92 mm | 540 g | 410 | n | Jul 2010 | EUR 529 | ebay.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ150 | 124 mm | 82 mm | 92 mm | 528 g | 410 | n | Aug 2011 | EUR 529 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic TZ90 | 112 mm | 67 mm | 41 mm | 322 g | 380 | n | Apr 2017 | EUR 429 | ebay.com | |
| 17. | Sony HX400V | 130 mm | 93 mm | 103 mm | 660 g | 300 | n | Feb 2014 | EUR 499 | ebay.com | |
| Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The FZ82D was launched at a lower price than the E-3, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparison
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-3 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Panasonic FZ82D a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the FZ82D is 88 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 5.6. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the FZ82D offers a higher resolution of 18 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the E-3. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.25μm versus 4.74μm for the E-3). However, it should be noted that the FZ82D is much more recent (by 16 years and 8 months) than the E-3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the FZ82D has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Panasonic FZ82D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the FZ82D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 24.5 x 18.4 inches or 62.2 x 46.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 19.6 x 14.7 inches or 49.7 x 37.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-3 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.
The Olympus E-3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82D are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-6400.
In terms of underlying technology, the E-3 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the FZ82D uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-3 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.6 | 10.5 | 571 | 56 | |
| 2. | Panasonic FZ82D | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.9 | 12.8 | 1634 | 54 | |
| 3. | Nikon D300 | APS-C | 12.2 | 4288 | 2848 | none | 22.1 | 12.0 | 679 | 67 | |
| 4. | Olympus E-1 | Four Thirds | 4.9 | 2560 | 1920 | none | 20.0 | 9.7 | -145 | 44 | |
| 5. | Olympus E-5 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.6 | 10.5 | 519 | 56 | |
| 6. | Olympus E-30 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | none | 21.3 | 10.4 | 530 | 55 | |
| 7. | Olympus E-410 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.1 | 10.0 | 494 | 51 | |
| 8. | Olympus E-420 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.5 | 10.4 | 527 | 56 | |
| 9. | Olympus E-510 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.2 | 10.0 | 442 | 52 | |
| 10. | Olympus E-520 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.4 | 10.4 | 548 | 55 | |
| 11. | Olympus E-600 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | none | 21.5 | 10.3 | 541 | 55 | |
| 12. | Olympus E-620 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | none | 21.3 | 10.3 | 536 | 55 | |
| 13. | Panasonic FZ82 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.5 | 11.9 | 900 | 49 | |
| 14. | Panasonic FZ100 | 1/2.3 | 14.0 | 4320 | 3240 | 1080/60i | 19.4 | 10.7 | 306 | 39 | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ150 | 1/2.3 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60p | 19.4 | 10.9 | 132 | 40 | |
| 16. | Panasonic TZ90 | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 19.1 | 10.6 | 106 | 36 | |
| 17. | Sony HX400V | 1/2.3 | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 1080/60p | 20.1 | 11.4 | 629 | 45 | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The FZ82D indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-3 does not. The highest resolution format that the FZ82D can use is 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the FZ82D has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the E-3 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the FZ82D has a higher magnification than the one of the E-3 (0.74x vs 0.58x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FZ82D in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-3 | optical | Y | 2.5 / 230 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 2. | Panasonic FZ82D | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 3. | Nikon D300 | optical | Y | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
| 4. | Olympus E-1 | optical | Y | 1.8 / 134 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
| 5. | Olympus E-5 | optical | Y | 3.0 / 920 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 6. | Olympus E-30 | optical | Y | 2.7 / 230 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 7. | Olympus E-410 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
| 8. | Olympus E-420 | optical | n | 2.7 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.5/s | Y | n | |
| 9. | Olympus E-510 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 10. | Olympus E-520 | optical | n | 2.7 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.5/s | Y | Y | |
| 11. | Olympus E-600 | optical | n | 2.7 / 230 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 12. | Olympus E-620 | optical | n | 2.7 / 230 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 13. | Panasonic FZ82 | 1166 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 14. | Panasonic FZ100 | 202 | n | 3.0 / 460 | swivel | n | 1/2000s | 11.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ150 | 202 | n | 3.0 / 460 | swivel | n | 1/2000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 16. | Panasonic TZ90 | 1166 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 17. | Sony HX400V | 210 | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
| Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. | |||||||||||
One feature that is present on the E-3, but is missing on the FZ82D is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.
The E-3 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the FZ82D does not have a selfie-screen.The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the FZ82D is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The E-3 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the FZ82D uses SDXC cards. The E-3 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the FZ82D only has one slot.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-3 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 2. | Panasonic FZ82D | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 3. | Nikon D300 | Y | - / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 4. | Olympus E-1 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 5. | Olympus E-5 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 6. | Olympus E-30 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 7. | Olympus E-410 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 8. | Olympus E-420 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 9. | Olympus E-510 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 10. | Olympus E-520 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 11. | Olympus E-600 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 12. | Olympus E-620 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 13. | Panasonic FZ82 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 14. | Panasonic FZ100 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ150 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 16. | Panasonic TZ90 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 17. | Sony HX400V | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-3 (unlike the FZ82D) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
The FZ82D is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the E-3 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the E-3 was succeeded by the Olympus E-5. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus and Panasonic websites.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Is the Olympus E-3 better than the Panasonic FZ82D or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-3:
- Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
- Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
- Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
- Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
- Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
- More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
- More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 330) on a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in October 2007).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82D:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (18 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 34%.
- Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
- Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
- More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.58x).
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1840k vs 230k dots).
- Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the E-3 requires a separate lens.
- More compact: Is smaller (130x94mm vs 142x116mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the E-3).
- Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
- More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
- More modern: Reflects 16 years and 8 months of technical progress since the E-3 launch.
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the FZ82D comes out slightly ahead of the E-3 (17 : 16 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-3 and the Panasonic FZ82D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-3 or the FZ82D. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-3 | .. | 88/100 | .. | + + | o | 4/5 | Oct 2007 | EUR 1 749 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Panasonic FZ82D | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jul 2024 | EUR 479 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Nikon D300 | .. | + + | .. | + + | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2007 | EUR 1 829 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Olympus E-1 | .. | .. | .. | + | o | .. | Jun 2003 | EUR 1 999 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Olympus E-5 | 4/5 | .. | .. | 75/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2010 | EUR 1 499 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Olympus E-30 | .. | .. | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Nov 2008 | EUR 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Olympus E-410 | .. | 86/100 | .. | + + | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2007 | EUR 699 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Olympus E-420 | .. | 85/100 | .. | + + | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2008 | EUR 499 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Olympus E-510 | .. | 89/100 | .. | + + | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2007 | EUR 799 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Olympus E-520 | .. | 87/100 | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2008 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Olympus E-600 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | Aug 2009 | EUR 399 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Olympus E-620 | 3/5 | 88/100 | .. | 72/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2009 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Panasonic FZ82 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | EUR 349 | amazon.com | |
| 14. | Panasonic FZ100 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2010 | EUR 529 | ebay.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic FZ150 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 76/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2011 | EUR 529 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic TZ90 | .. | + + | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Apr 2017 | EUR 429 | ebay.com | |
| 17. | Sony HX400V | 4/5 | + + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2014 | EUR 499 | ebay.com | |
| Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||||
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check E-3 offers at
ebay.com

Check FZ82D price at
amazon.com
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 1D X vs Olympus E-3
- Canon 1D vs Panasonic FZ82D
- Canon G9 X vs Olympus E-3
- Fujifilm GFX 100 vs Olympus E-3
- Fujifilm X-E3 vs Olympus E-3
- Fujifilm X-E4 vs Panasonic FZ82D
- Leica D-LUX 8 vs Panasonic FZ82D
- Nikon B500 vs Panasonic FZ82D
- Nikon D700 vs Olympus E-3
- Olympus E-3 vs OM System OM-5
- Panasonic FZ2000 vs Panasonic FZ82D
- Panasonic FZ82D vs Panasonic S1 II
Specifications: Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FZ82D
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
| Camera Model | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic FZ82D |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | Fixed lens compact camera |
| Camera Lens | Four Thirds lenses | 20-1200mm f/2.8-5.9 |
| Launch Date | October 2007 | July 2024 |
| Launch Price | USD 1,699 | USD 479 |
| Sensor Specs | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic FZ82D |
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
| Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | 1/2.3" Sensor |
| Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 6.17 x 4.55 mm |
| Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 28.0735 mm2 |
| Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 7.7 mm |
| Crop Factor | 2.0x | 5.6x |
| Sensor Resolution | 10 Megapixels | 18 Megapixels |
| Image Resolution | 3648 x 2736 pixels | 4896 x 3672 pixels |
| Pixel Pitch | 4.74 μm | 1.25 μm |
| Pixel Density | 4.44 MP/cm2 | 64.04 MP/cm2 |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | no AA filter |
| Movie Capability | no Video | 4K/30p Video |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 3,200 ISO | 80 - 3,200 ISO |
| ISO Boost | no Enhancement | 80 - 6,400 ISO |
| Image Processor | TruePic III | Venus |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 56 | .. |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.6 | .. |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.5 | .. |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 571 | .. |
| Screen Specs | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic FZ82D |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.58x | 0.74x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2360k dots | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | no Top Display |
| LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
| Rear LCD Size | 2.5inch | 3.0inch |
| LCD Resolution | 230k dots | 1840k dots |
| LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | Fixed screen |
| Touch Input | no Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
| Shooting Specs | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic FZ82D |
| Focus System | Phase-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | Focus Peaking |
| Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/8000s | 1/2000s |
| Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | 10 shutter flaps/s |
| Electronic Shutter | no E-Shutter | up to 1/16000s |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | Lens-based stabilization |
| Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
| Storage Medium | CF or XD cards | SDXC cards |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | Single card slot |
| Connectivity Specs | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic FZ82D |
| External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
| Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | no PC Sync |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
| HDMI Port | no HDMI | micro HDMI |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | no Wifi |
| Body Specs | Olympus E-3 | Panasonic FZ82D |
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | not weather sealed |
| Battery Type | Olympus BLM-1 | Panasonic DMW-BMB9 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 750 shots per charge | 330 shots per charge |
| In-Camera Charging | no USB charging | USB charging |
| Body Dimensions |
142 x 116 x 75 mm (5.6 x 4.6 x 3.0 in) |
130 x 94 x 119 mm (5.1 x 3.7 x 4.7 in) |
| Camera Weight | 876 g (30.9 oz) | 616 g (21.7 oz) |

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