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Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2010
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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Nikon L21 and Panasonic ZS3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the L21 (8MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is pretty close and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L21 was manufactured 9 months later than the ZS3 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the L21 matches up vs the ZS3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Panasonic ZS3

 L21 ZS3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2010May 2009More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Nikon L21

 ZS3 L21 
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Panasonic ZS3

 L21 ZS3 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon L21 has exterior measurements of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Nikon L21 and Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the L21 against the ZS3.

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L21 and ZS3 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The visual below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the L21 and ZS3.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Panasonic ZS3 to provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger L21 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon L21
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
18
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (8 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L21
Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
46
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
15
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
50
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L21
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
21
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
35
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging features
21
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone socket
30
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
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Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Panasonic ZS3
 Nikon Coolpix L21Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix L21 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-02-03 2009-05-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 169 grams (0.37 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 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 model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $180 $200