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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • New Model is Sony A9 II
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Overview

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A9, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and A9 (24MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZR3 was brought out 8 years before the A9 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZR3 scores vs the A9 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Sony A9

 ZR3 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Panasonic ZR3

 A9 ZR3 
RevealedApril 2017January 2010More recent by 88 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kClearer screen (+1210k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A9

 ZR3 A9 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR3 has physical measurements 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 Sony A9 has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A9 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the ZR3 and the A9.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the ZR3 and A9 is 94 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and A9.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The ZR3 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A9 will deliver more detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older ZR3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography features
Sony A9 Portrait photography features
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
83
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A9 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
36
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
86
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
great battery life (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
64
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
73
great battery life (650 CIPA)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent MP (24 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography info
Sony A9 Landscape photography info
37
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
85
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
great battery life (650 shots)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging info
Sony A9 Vlogging info
29
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A9
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Sony Alpha A9
Also called Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-01-26 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
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 11 693
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300s 1/8000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 159g (0.35 lb) 673g (1.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Two
Launch price $280 $4,498