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Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic ZR3 versus Panasonic ZS45, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is relatively close and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZR3 was unveiled 6 years before the ZS45 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the ZR3 scores vs the ZS45 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Panasonic ZS45

 ZR3 ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Panasonic ZR3

 ZS45 ZR3 
IntroducedJanuary 2015January 2010More modern by 60 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Panasonic ZS45

 ZR3 ZS45 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZR3 enjoys outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has sizing of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZR3 versus Panasonic ZS45 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the ZR3 and the ZS45.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZR3 and ZS45 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The image underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZR3 and ZS45.

To sum up, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Panasonic ZS45 to provide you with more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged ZR3 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography features
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
37
good MP (16MP)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography features
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (249g)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography information
37
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
56
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography information
65
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
71
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (249g)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS45
37
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
48
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
great battery pack (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZR3
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
29
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
34
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Panasonic ZS45
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 Lumix DMC-TZ57
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-01-26 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 21
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 159 gr (0.35 lbs) 249 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" 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 - 350 pictures
Type 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $280 $300