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Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Panasonic ZS20 versus Panasonic ZS3, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both are offered by Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS20 was brought out 2 years after the ZS3 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZS20 grades versus the ZS3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic ZS3

 ZS20 ZS3 
RevealedApril 2012May 2009More modern by 36 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic ZS20

 ZS3 ZS20 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Panasonic ZS3

 ZS20 ZS3 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS20 comes with external dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS3 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS20 versus Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS20 against the ZS3.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and ZS3 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS20 and ZS3.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS20 to deliver extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger ZS20 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
30
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography information
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition in class (206g)
has focus via touch
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
63
lighter than competition (229g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography details
42
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ30 Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-04-26 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD Lite
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206 gr (0.45 lb) 229 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 260 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $349 $200