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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Announced January 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony WX350
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony WX500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the ZR3 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZR3 was introduced 6 years before the WX500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZR3 grades versus the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Sony WX500

 ZR3 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Panasonic ZR3

 WX500 ZR3 
IntroducedApril 2015January 2010More recent by 63 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony WX500

 ZR3 WX500 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZR3 offers outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZR3 and Sony WX500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZR3 and the WX500.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZR3 and WX500 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZR3 and WX500.

Clearly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Sony WX500 to deliver extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older ZR3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR3
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
28
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
39
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
Street photography with Sony WX500
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
70
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
Sports photography with Sony WX500
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
65
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
better than average battery power (360 shots)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR3
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
37
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
49
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging advice
Sony WX500 Vlogging advice
29
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
35
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic ZR3 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR3 and Sony WX500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Also called as Lumix DMC-ZX3 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-01-26 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 pounds) 236g (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $280 $348