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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
53
Features
82
Overall
64

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV 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
  • Released January 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Released September 2017
  • Previous Model is Sony RX10 III
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZR3 versus Sony RX10 IV, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") possess different sensor size.

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The ZR3 was unveiled 8 years earlier than the RX10 IV which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZR3 grades versus the RX10 IV with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Sony RX10 IV

 ZR3 RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Panasonic ZR3

 RX10 IV ZR3 
ReleasedSeptember 2017January 2010Newer by 92 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kClearer screen (+1210k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony RX10 IV

 ZR3 RX10 IV 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZR3 offers outer dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony RX10 IV has dimensions of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") along with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR3 versus Sony RX10 IV in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZR3 vs the RX10 IV.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZR3 and RX10 IV is 94 and 52 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The picture here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZR3 and RX10 IV.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZR3 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony RX10 IV will produce more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged ZR3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography features
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography features
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Street photography camera
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
64
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
environment sealing
heavier than competition in class (1,095g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography details
Sony RX10 IV Sports photography details
37
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
76
amazing zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (24.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Travel photography camera
65
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
56
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (1,095g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography information
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography information
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging information
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging information
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
29
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic socket
slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not offer selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (1,095g)
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Sony RX10 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Also called Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-01-26 2017-09-12
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
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 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 315
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 159 grams (0.35 lbs) 1095 grams (2.41 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
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 - 400 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $280 $1,698