Canon SX200 IS vs Panasonic ZR3

Its time to examine more closely at the Canon SX200 IS and Panasonic ZR3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SX200 IS (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is very well matched and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX200 IS was introduced 8 months before the ZR3 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SX200 IS scores against the ZR3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot SX200 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3. The whole galleries are available at Canon SX200 IS Gallery and Panasonic ZR3 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SX200 IS provides external measurements of 103mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX200 IS and Panasonic ZR3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX200 IS versus the ZR3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX200 IS and ZR3 is 90 and 94 respectively.

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX200 IS and ZR3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZR3 to resolve greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older SX200 IS is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.