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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the SZ3 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") provide totally different sensor size.

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The SZ3 was announced 3 years after the ZS1 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ3 grades against the ZS1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic ZS1

 SZ3 ZS1 
LaunchedJanuary 2013May 2009More modern by 45 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Panasonic SZ3

 ZS1 SZ3 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS1

 SZ3 ZS1 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen size
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ3 comes with physical dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS1 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ3 versus the ZS1.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ3 and ZS1 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ3 and ZS1.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ3 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ3 will render greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SZ3 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography information
30
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
25
provides face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography details
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Sports photography camera
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography factors
71
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
63
lighter than others in class (229g)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography information
39
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging details
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic support
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG 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 126 gr (0.28 pounds) 229 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $150 $0