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Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

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
  • Released January 2011
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic S3 and Panasonic ZR1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both of them are produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S3 was unveiled 18 months after the ZR1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the S3 grades versus the ZR1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic ZR1

 S3 ZR1 
ReleasedJanuary 2011July 2009Newer by 18 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Panasonic S3

 ZR1 S3 

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Panasonic ZR1

 S3 ZR1 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S3 provides external measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic S3 and Panasonic ZR1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the S3 vs the ZR1.

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and ZR1 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specifications. The pic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the S3 and ZR1.

To sum up, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Panasonic S3 to give greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer S3 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography advice
28
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography highlights
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
57
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography highlights
38
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
32
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging details
31
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
28
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Panasonic ZR1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-05 2009-07-27
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Venus Engine V
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 117g (0.26 lbs) 158g (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 250 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $110 $280