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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony G3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and G3 (10MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS20 was released 3 years later than the G3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the ZS20 matches up versus the G3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony G3

 ZS20 G3 
LaunchedApril 2012January 2009Fresher by 41 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Panasonic ZS20

 G3 ZS20 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony G3

 ZS20 G3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS20 provides exterior dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Sony G3 has sizing of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony G3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS20 vs the G3.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS20 and G3 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at specs. The graphic here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS20 and G3.

All in all, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS20 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer ZS20 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography factors
Sony G3 Portrait photography factors
30
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
26
you can focus manually
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography info
Sony G3 Street photography info
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography information
Sony G3 Sports photography information
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000s)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography factors
Sony G3 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
has focus by touch
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery life (260 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography features
Sony G3 Landscape photography features
42
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (260 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
36
you can focus manually
big screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
Vlogging with Sony G3
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
27
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony G3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-04-26 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 3cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 4.30 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
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 gr (0.45 lbs) 185 gr (0.41 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 260 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $349 $200