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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Introduced July 2015
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic FZ200
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic FZ300 versus Panasonic S3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Panasonic. The image resolution of the FZ300 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FZ300 was revealed 4 years after the S3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the FZ300 scores against the S3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Panasonic S3

 FZ300 S3 
AnnouncedJuly 2015January 2011More modern by 56 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic FZ300

 S3 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic S3

 FZ300 S3 

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ300 comes with outer measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FZ300 versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FZ300 and the S3.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FZ300 and S3 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ300 and S3.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should count on the Panasonic S3 to produce extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer FZ300 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography features
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography features
46
has manual focus
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Street photography camera
59
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
weather proof
sensor is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (691 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery power (380 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
59
great battery power (380 per charge)
weather proof
has focus by touch
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
heavier than competition in class (691 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ300
Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
52
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FZ300
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
62
really wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic support
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition in class (691g)
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-07-16 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Venus Engine IV
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/16000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 691 grams (1.52 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 380 photographs 250 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $598 $110