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Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
66
Imaging
65
Features
77
Overall
69
Nikon D5200 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Nikon D5200
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 555g - 129 x 98 x 78mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Succeeded the Nikon D5100
  • Successor is Nikon D5300
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Nikon D5200 and Panasonic SZ3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the D5200 (24MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the D5200 (APS-C) and SZ3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The D5200 was revealed 5 months after the SZ3 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D5200 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the D5200 grades vs the SZ3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5200 over the Panasonic SZ3

 D5200 SZ3 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Nikon D5200

 SZ3 D5200 

Common features in the Nikon D5200 and Panasonic SZ3

 D5200 SZ3 
IntroducedMay 2013January 2013Similar age
Touch display Missing Touch display

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5200 comes with external measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") and a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D5200 and Panasonic SZ3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the D5200 and the SZ3.

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the D5200 and SZ3 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The pic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the D5200 and SZ3.

Plainly, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The D5200 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Nikon D5200 will give extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively.

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5200 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography advice
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
30
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5200 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
69
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D5200
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
61
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
41
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5200 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography information
69
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (500 shots)
71
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5200 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (500 shots)
39
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5200
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
71
screen is selfie friendly
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic support
lack of image stabilization
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
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Nikon D5200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5200 and Panasonic SZ3
 Nikon D5200Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon D5200 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-05-16 2013-01-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 3 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 39 23
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 309 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 555g (1.22 pounds) 126g (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1284 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photos 250 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14 -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $595 $150