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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ3 was unveiled 3 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SZ3 matches up against the ZS3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic ZS3

 SZ3 ZS3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013May 2009Newer by 45 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic SZ3

 ZS3 SZ3 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS3

 SZ3 ZS3 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ3 provides outside measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SZ3 against the ZS3.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ3 and ZS3 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The image underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ3 and ZS3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic SZ3 to provide you with more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography factors
30
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
19
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS3
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
71
lighter than competition in class (126g)
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
63
lighter than competitors (229g)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
39
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
35
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging highlights
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-07 2009-05-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.10 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 126g (0.28 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
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 All around 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 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $150 $200