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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS20, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very comparable and they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ3 was announced 9 months after the ZS20 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ3 grades vs the ZS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic ZS20

 SZ3 ZS20 
RevealedJanuary 2013April 2012More modern by 9 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic SZ3

 ZS20 SZ3 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS20

 SZ3 ZS20 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ3 provides exterior dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ3 vs the ZS20.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and ZS20 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and ZS20.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ3 to produce extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher SZ3 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography advice
30
decent megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
30
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography information
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
65
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (260 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
71
lighter than competition (126g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than competition in class (206g)
features focus by touch
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography info
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery (260 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126g (0.28 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 260 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $150 $349