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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Released July 2015
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ200
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
  • Announced January 2013
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the FZ300 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ300 was brought out 2 years later than the SZ3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the FZ300 grades vs the SZ3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Panasonic SZ3

 FZ300 SZ3 
AnnouncedJuly 2015January 2013More recent by 31 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic FZ300

 SZ3 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic SZ3

 FZ300 SZ3 

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ300 offers exterior measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") and a weight of 691 grams (1.52 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).

See the Panasonic FZ300 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 have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FZ300 versus the SZ3.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FZ300 and SZ3 is 59 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The photograph here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FZ300 and SZ3.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic SZ3 to give greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more recent FZ300 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ300
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
46
has manual focus
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
30
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography features
59
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
has focus via touch
environment proof
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (691 grams)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FZ300
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
great max shutter speed (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
good battery (380 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography highlights
59
good battery (380 shots)
environment proof
has focus via touch
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
heavier than competition in class (691g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
environment proof
good battery (380 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
39
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
62
reasonably wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has mic port
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition in class (691g)
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-07-16 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount 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
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 4.10 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, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691 grams (1.52 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $598 $150