Panasonic S3 vs Sony S950

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic S3 versus Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and S950 (10MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S3 was launched 23 months later than the S950 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the S3 matches up against the S950 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic S3 Gallery & Sony S950 Gallery.

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S3 features physical 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 S950 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Panasonic S3 versus Sony S950 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the S3 and the S950.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and S950 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Often, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S3 and S950.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic S3 to render more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher S3 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.