Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330
96 Imaging
37 Features
24 Overall
31


67 Imaging
50 Features
50 Overall
50
Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed January 2011
(Full Review)
- 10MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
- Introduced May 2009
- Replaced the Sony A300

Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Overview
Below is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic S3 versus Sony A330, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and A330 (10MP) and the S3 (1/2.3") and A330 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

The S3 was manufactured 20 months later than the A330 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the S3 scores vs the A330 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A330. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic S3 Gallery and Sony A330 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Sony A330
S3 | A330 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2011 | ![]() | May 2009 | More recent by 20 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Panasonic S3
A330 | S3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More accurate focusing | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Sony A330
S3 | A330 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen dimension | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.7" | Identical screen size |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither contains Touch friendly screen |
Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S3 has got outer measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A330 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic S3 versus Sony A330 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the S3 compared to the A330.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S3 and A330 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S3 and A330.
Clearly, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The S3 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic S3 will offer greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent S3 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Sony A330 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2011-01-05 | 2009-05-18 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Venus Engine IV | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 3872 x 2592 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 28-112mm (4.0x) | - |
Max aperture | f/3.1-5.6 | - |
Macro focus distance | 5cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen diagonal | 2.7" | 2.7" |
Screen resolution | 230 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.49x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 8s | 30s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1600s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 2.0 frames per second | 3.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 3.30 m | 10.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | - | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video format | MPEG-4 | - |
Microphone 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 | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 117 gr (0.26 pounds) | 529 gr (1.17 pounds) |
Dimensions | 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") | 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 64 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 22.4 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.5 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 535 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 250 shots | 230 shots |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Launch cost | $110 | $545 |