Nikon P520 vs Panasonic ZS3

The following is a in-depth review of the Nikon P520 versus Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the P520 (18MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The P520 was manufactured 3 years after the ZS3 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon P520 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the P520 grades against the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix P520 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. The entire galleries are available at Nikon P520 Gallery & Panasonic ZS3 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon P520 has physical measurements of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Nikon P520 versus Panasonic ZS3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the P520 versus the ZS3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the P520 and ZS3 is 66 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the P520 and ZS3.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Nikon P520 to resolve extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher P520 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.