Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3
67 Imaging
36 Features
44 Overall
39
91 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 160 - 3200
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 23-810mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
- 494g - 116 x 84 x 103mm
- Released February 2011
- Updated by Nikon P510
(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
- Launched May 2009
- Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview
Following is a extensive comparison of the Nikon P500 versus Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the P500 (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe P500 was released 22 months after the ZS3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.
Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the P500 scores vs the ZS3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix P500 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon P500 Gallery & Panasonic ZS3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon P500 over the Panasonic ZS3
P500 | ZS3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2011 | May 2009 | More modern by 22 months | |
Manual focus | Dial accurate focusing | |||
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting screen | |
Screen resolution | 921k | 460k | Clearer screen (+461k dot) |
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Nikon P500
ZS3 | P500 |
---|
Common features in the Nikon P500 and Panasonic ZS3
P500 | ZS3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent screen sizing | |
Selfie screen | Neither contains selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly screen | Absent Touch friendly screen |
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon P500 has got outer measurements of 116mm x 84mm x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) and 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).
Check out the Nikon P500 versus Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the P500 vs the ZS3.
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the P500 and ZS3 is 67 and 91 respectively.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by reading specs. The image below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the P500 and ZS3.
As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Nikon P500 to offer more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent P500 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Nikon P500 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications
Nikon Coolpix P500 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Nikon | Panasonic |
Model | Nikon Coolpix P500 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 |
Also Known as | - | Lumix DMC-TZ7 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Released | 2011-02-09 | 2009-05-14 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Expeed C2 | - |
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 | 12 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 3648 x 2736 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 160 | 80 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 23-810mm (35.2x) | 25-300mm (12.0x) |
Maximum aperture | f/3.4-5.7 | f/3.3-4.9 |
Macro focus distance | 1cm | 3cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 921k dots | 460k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Display tech | TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 8s | 60s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1500s | 1/2000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames per second | 2.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 8.00 m | 5.30 m (Auto ISO) |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) | 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 file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | AVCHD Lite |
Microphone 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 | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 494 grams (1.09 lb) | 229 grams (0.50 lb) |
Dimensions | 116 x 84 x 103mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 4.1") | 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 | 220 pictures | - |
Battery type | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | EN-EL5 | - |
Self timer | Yes (10 or 2 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail price | $399 | $200 |