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Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
81
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Released July 2014
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the SX400 IS (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX400 IS was launched 5 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SX400 IS matches up vs the ZS3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Panasonic ZS3

 SX400 IS ZS3 
IntroducedJuly 2014May 2009More modern by 64 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Canon SX400 IS

 ZS3 SX400 IS 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX400 IS and Panasonic ZS3

 SX400 IS ZS3 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX400 IS features outer dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SX400 IS against the ZS3.

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SX400 IS and ZS3 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX400 IS and ZS3.

Clearly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Canon SX400 IS to produce more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer SX400 IS is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX400 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
35
MP count decent (16MP)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX400 IS
Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography advice
42
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (190 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography factors
60
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery life (190 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
62
lighter than average (229g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography factors
40
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (190 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX400 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
28
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Canon SX400 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX400 IS and Panasonic ZS3
 Canon PowerShot SX400 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-07-29 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 0cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
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 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 190 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-11LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $229 $200