Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX100 II

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX100 II, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the ZR3 (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZR3 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the RX100 II and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the ZR3 matches up vs the RX100 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZR3 Gallery & Sony RX100 II Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZR3 offers physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony RX100 II has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony RX100 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the ZR3 versus the RX100 II.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZR3 and RX100 II is 94 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The photograph below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR3 and RX100 II.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZR3 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony RX100 II will show greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older ZR3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.