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Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
64
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic FZ100
  • Later Model is Panasonic FZ300
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
  • Launched January 2013
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Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the FZ200 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FZ200 was unveiled 5 months prior to the SZ3 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the FZ200 scores vs the SZ3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ200 over the Panasonic SZ3

 FZ200 SZ3 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic FZ200

 SZ3 FZ200 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ200 and Panasonic SZ3

 FZ200 SZ3 
LaunchedJuly 2012January 2013Same generation
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ200 enjoys external dimensions of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") having a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the FZ200 against the SZ3.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ200 and SZ3 is 65 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The photograph below should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ200 and SZ3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic SZ3 to render extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively.

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ200
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
48
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
57
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography features
46
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (540 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography factors
55
great battery life (540 CIPA)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (588 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than average (126 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ200
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ3
48
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (540 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ200 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
63
relatively wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic FZ200 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ200 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-07-18 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,312 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.50 m 4.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/4000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (240, 120, 30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
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 588g (1.30 lbs) 126g (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 37 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 114 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 shots 250 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $499 $150