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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 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
  • Announced January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A230
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic ZR3 versus Sony A290, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the A290 (14MP) is relatively close but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The ZR3 was brought out 4 months earlier than the A290 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the ZR3 matches up against the A290 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Sony A290

 ZR3 A290 

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Panasonic ZR3

 A290 ZR3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A290

 ZR3 A290 
LaunchedJanuary 2010June 2010Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR3 comes with external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZR3 versus Sony A290 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the ZR3 and the A290.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZR3 and A290 is 94 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The pic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZR3 and A290.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The ZR3 includes the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow DOF trickier.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
65
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
Street photography with Sony A290
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A290 as a Sports photography camera
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low battery (290 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography details
Sony A290 Travel photography details
64
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography factors
Sony A290 Landscape photography factors
37
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
low battery (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging information
Sony A290 Vlogging information
29
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-26 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159g (0.35 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $280 $600