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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2007
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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The L1 was brought out 3 years earlier than the ZS3 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the L1 grades vs the ZS3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic ZS3

 L1 ZS3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic L1

 ZS3 L1 
AnnouncedMay 2009April 2007More modern by 25 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k207kSharper display (+253k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Panasonic ZS3

 L1 ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic L1 has outside measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the L1 against the ZS3.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L1 and ZS3 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The image here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and ZS3.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The L1 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS3 will give you extra detail having its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged L1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography information
54
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (7 megapixels)
19
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography details
58
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than others in class (606 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography information
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (7MP)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography information
50
lighter than others in class (606 grams)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (7MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
63
lighter than others (229 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no image stabilization
MP count low (7 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2007-04-11 2009-05-14
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 7MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3136 x 2352 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 207k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 606g (1.34 lb) 229g (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $1,500 $200