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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax H90, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS3 (10MP) and the H90 (12MP) is very well matched and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was brought out 8 months prior to the H90 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the ZS3 matches up against the H90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax H90

 ZS3 H90 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Panasonic ZS3

 H90 ZS3 
RevealedJanuary 2010May 2009More modern by 8 months
Manually focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax H90

 ZS3 H90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 has got exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax H90 has sizing of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax H90 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 based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS3 versus the H90.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS3 and H90 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specifications. The picture underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS3 and H90.

To sum up, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Pentax H90 to give extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax H90 Portrait photography factors
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
27
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography info
Pentax H90 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
Sports photography with Pentax H90
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
Pentax H90 Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competition in class (229g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
57
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography information
Pentax H90 Landscape photography information
35
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
36
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax H90 as a Vlogging camera
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax H90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax Optio H90
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-05-14 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229 grams (0.50 lbs) 153 grams (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $200 $150