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Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FX78 (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is fairly close and they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FX78 was introduced 21 months after the ZS3 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FX78 grades vs the ZS3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Panasonic ZS3

 FX78 ZS3 
RevealedJanuary 2011May 2009Newer by 21 months
Display dimension3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic FX78

 ZS3 FX78 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX78 and Panasonic ZS3

 FX78 ZS3 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FX78 offers external dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FX78 vs 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 vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the FX78 compared to the ZS3.

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FX78 and ZS3 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The image underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FX78 and ZS3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Panasonic FX78 to result in greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The fresher FX78 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography advice
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
19
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FX78
Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography details
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FX78
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
56
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (200 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
63
lighter than competition in class (229g)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography factors
36
quite wide (24mm)
lovely big screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual exposure not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery (200 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX78 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
33
quite wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
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Panasonic FX78 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX78 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Alternative name Lumix DMC-FX77 Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-25 2009-05-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
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
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.5-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1400 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142 gr (0.31 pounds) 229 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $210 $200