Kodak M550 vs Panasonic SZ3

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Kodak M550 vs Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Kodak and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the M550 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The M550 was introduced 4 years earlier than the SZ3 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the M550 scores vs the SZ3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Kodak EasyShare M550 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3. The whole galleries are available at Kodak M550 Gallery and Panasonic SZ3 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Kodak M550 offers outer dimensions of 98mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Kodak M550 vs Panasonic SZ3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the M550 compared to the SZ3.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M550 and SZ3 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the M550 and SZ3.

To sum up, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic SZ3 to show extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older M550 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.