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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Launched February 2016
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the B500 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The B500 was manufactured 6 years after the ZS3 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the B500 matches up versus the ZS3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Panasonic ZS3

 B500 ZS3 
LaunchedFebruary 2016May 2009More modern by 83 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Nikon B500

 ZS3 B500 

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS3

 B500 ZS3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon B500 provides exterior measurements of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the B500 vs the ZS3.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the B500 and ZS3 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The picture below will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the B500 and ZS3.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Nikon B500 to offer greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer B500 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
37
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
52
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competitors (541 grams)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
51
incredible zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery power (600 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
59
good battery power (600 per charge)
connects via bluetooth
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (23mm)
long zoom (900mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (541 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
63
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon B500
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
45
reasonably wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good battery power (600 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
35
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging factors
27
reasonably wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (541 grams)
30
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
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Nikon B500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Panasonic ZS3
 Nikon Coolpix B500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix B500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-02-23 2009-05-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-900mm (39.1x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 1s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.4fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 541g (1.19 lb) 229g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 600 shots -
Form of battery AA -
Battery model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $300 $200