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Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 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
  • Revealed January 2013
Sony S930
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 38-108mm (F2.9-5.4) lens
  • 167g - 90 x 61 x 26mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic SZ3 versus Sony S930, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and S930 (10MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ3 was manufactured 4 years after the S930 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ3 grades against the S930 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Sony S930

 SZ3 S930 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2009Newer by 49 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.4"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution230k112kClearer display (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S930 over the Panasonic SZ3

 S930 SZ3 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Sony S930

 SZ3 S930 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ3 provides outer measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony S930 has measurements of 90mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ3 versus Sony S930 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ3 against the S930.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ3 and S930 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The pic here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ3 and S930.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ3 to show more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ3 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography details
Sony S930 Portrait photography details
30
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
25
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography features
Sony S930 Street photography features
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
Sony S930 Sports photography info
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography highlights
Sony S930 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
50
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography details
Sony S930 Landscape photography details
38
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
31
you can focus manually
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.4 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S930 as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (320 x 240 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony S930 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Sony S930
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-01-07 2009-01-08
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 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 38-108mm (2.8x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.9-5.4
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.4 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 112k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 1/8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 3.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash
External flash
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) 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 320x240
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126g (0.28 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 90 x 61 x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / PRo-HG Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $150 $219