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Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
90
Imaging
36
Features
23
Overall
30
Nikon Coolpix S32 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Nikon S32
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-90mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 175g - 108 x 66 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2014
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
  • Released May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Nikon S32 and Panasonic ZS3, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the S32 (13MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the S32 (1/3") and ZS3 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The S32 was brought out 4 years later than the ZS3 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the S32 matches up vs the ZS3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S32 over the Panasonic ZS3

 S32 ZS3 
ReleasedFebruary 2014May 2009Fresher by 58 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Nikon S32

 ZS3 S32 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon S32 and Panasonic ZS3

 S32 ZS3 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S32 has external dimensions of 108mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") along with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Nikon S32 and Panasonic ZS3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the S32 vs the ZS3.

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the S32 and ZS3 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by going through specifications. The photograph here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the S32 and ZS3.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The S32 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Nikon S32 will show extra detail having its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger S32 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S32 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography details
33
good MP (13 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/3")
doesn't have RAW format
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S32 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
no moving screen
small sensor (1/3")
doesn't have RAW format
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S32 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography info
36
image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (13 megapixels)
weather proof
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S32 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography highlights
58
weather proof
good MP (13MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
low battery power (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
63
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S32 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography features
34
image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (13MP)
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor (1/3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery power (220 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
35
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S32 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Digital)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
30
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Nikon S32 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S32 and Panasonic ZS3
 Nikon Coolpix S32Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S32 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-02-07 2009-05-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4160 x 3120 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-90mm (3.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 7.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.10 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920x1080 (30p), VGA 640x480 (30p, 15p) 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 format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175g (0.39 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 66 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") 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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL19 -
Self timer Yes (Approx. 10 seconds ) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $180 $200