Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550
94 Imaging
37 Features
26 Overall
32
63 Imaging
54 Features
65 Overall
58
Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 Key Specs
(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
- Launched January 2010
- Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Introduced December 2009
- Earlier Model is Sony A100
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 Overview
Below is a extended review of the Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZR3 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the ZR3 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe ZR3 was unveiled 2 months later than the A550 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ZR3 grades versus the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
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Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZR3 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Sony A550
| ZR3 | A550 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic ZR3
| A550 | ZR3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus |  | Dial exact focus | ||
| Screen type | Tilting |  | Fixed | Tilting screen |
| Screen sizing | 3" |  | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
| Screen resolution | 922k |  | 230k | Clearer screen (+692k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony A550
| ZR3 | A550 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | January 2010 |  | December 2009 | Similar generation |
| Selfie screen |  | Neither features selfie screen | ||
| Touch screen |  | No Touch screen |
Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison
In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZR3 enjoys 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 A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the ZR3 vs the A550.
Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.
Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The visual below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZR3 and A550.
As you can tell, each of the cameras offer the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The ZR3 offers the tinier sensor which will make getting shallow DOF trickier.
Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony A550 Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Panasonic | Sony |
| Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 |
| Alternate name | Lumix DMC-ZX3 | - |
| Category | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Launched | 2010-01-26 | 2009-12-09 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | Venus Engine HD II | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 365.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 14 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Peak resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4592 x 3056 |
| Highest native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
| Lowest native ISO | 80 | 200 |
| RAW pictures | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Autofocus continuous | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Tracking autofocus | ||
| Selective autofocus | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Multi area autofocus | ||
| Autofocus live view | ||
| Face detect focus | ||
| Contract detect focus | ||
| Phase detect focus | ||
| Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Lens focal range | 25-200mm (8.0x) | - |
| Maximal aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
| Macro focus distance | 3cm | - |
| Number of lenses | - | 143 |
| Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
| Display sizing | 2.7 inches | 3 inches |
| Display resolution | 230k dots | 922k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch capability | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
| Features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
| Fastest shutter speed | 1/1300s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous shutter rate | 2.0 frames/s | 7.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash range | 5.30 m | 12.00 m |
| 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 | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/160s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported 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 | None |
| Video file format | AVCHD Lite | - |
| Microphone support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| 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 sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 159 grams (0.35 lbs) | 632 grams (1.39 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall score | not tested | 66 |
| DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 21.9 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.8 |
| DXO Low light score | not tested | 807 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 480 photos |
| Battery style | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | NP-FM500H |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Card slots | Single | Single |
| Cost at release | $280 | $749 |
