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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ1000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 831g - 137 x 99 x 131mm
  • Announced June 2014
  • New Model is Panasonic FZ2500
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FZ1000 and Panasonic SZ3, one being a Large Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the FZ1000 (20MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the FZ1000 (1") and SZ3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The FZ1000 was revealed 18 months later than the SZ3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ1000 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the FZ1000 scores versus the SZ3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 over the Panasonic SZ3

 FZ1000 SZ3 
AnnouncedJune 2014January 2013More recent by 18 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic FZ1000

 SZ3 FZ1000 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ1000 and Panasonic SZ3

 FZ1000 SZ3 
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ1000 provides external measurements of 137mm x 99mm x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") having a weight of 831 grams (1.83 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FZ1000 and Panasonic SZ3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the FZ1000 versus the SZ3.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ1000 and SZ3 is 55 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ1000 and SZ3.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FZ1000 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FZ1000 will produce more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent FZ1000 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography highlights
71
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
30
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography info
71
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography highlights
67
amazing zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FZ1000
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
65
good MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (400mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than others (126 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ1000 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
39
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ1000
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
66
decently wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone port
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Panasonic FZ1000 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ1000 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Large Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-06-12 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-400mm (16.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.0 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.50 m (at Auto ISO) 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 831 gr (1.83 lb) 126 gr (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 99 x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 517 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 250 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLC12PP -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $800 $150