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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Released January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX50V
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony HX30V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZR3 was revealed 3 years before the HX30V and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the ZR3 grades against the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Sony HX30V

 ZR3 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic ZR3

 HX30V ZR3 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2010Fresher by 25 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony HX30V

 ZR3 HX30V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR3 features external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony HX30V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZR3 against the HX30V.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR3 and HX30V is 94 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and HX30V.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony HX30V to resolve more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older ZR3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
45
you can focus manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Street photography information
Sony HX30V Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
36
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
64
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than average (254g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography info
Sony HX30V Landscape photography info
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging details
Sony HX30V Vlogging details
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (254 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-01-26 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD II BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 gr (0.35 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 - 320 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $280 $420