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Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic S3 versus Sony W730, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the S3 (14MP) and the W730 (16MP) is very well matched and they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The S3 was released 24 months earlier than the W730 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the S3 grades against the W730 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Sony W730

 S3 W730 

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Panasonic S3

 W730 S3 
ReleasedJanuary 2013January 2011More recent by 24 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Sony W730

 S3 W730 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurement
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S3 features external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony W730 has proportions of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") having a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

See the Panasonic S3 versus Sony W730 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the S3 vs the W730.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and W730 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3 and W730.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony W730 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older S3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography features
Sony W730 Portrait photography features
28
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
35
decent MP (16MP)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography features
Sony W730 Street photography features
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than competition (122 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography features
Sony W730 Sports photography features
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W730 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
71
lighter than competition (122 grams)
includes focus by touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic S3
Landscape photography with Sony W730
38
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
39
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging highlights
Sony W730 Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
34
rather wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition (122g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Panasonic S3 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Sony W730
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-05 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-224mm (9.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 grams (0.26 pounds) 122 grams (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" 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 250 images 240 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $110 $138