Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1
91 Imaging
32 Features
30 Overall
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66 Imaging
40 Features
37 Overall
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1 Key Specs
(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
- Announced May 2009
- Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
- 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
- Revealed July 2014
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The following is a extended assessment of the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and XG-1 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe ZS3 was announced 6 years earlier than the XG-1 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.
Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the ZS3 grades vs the XG-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 & Pentax XG-1. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic ZS3 Gallery & Pentax XG-1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax XG-1
| ZS3 | XG-1 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Panasonic ZS3
| XG-1 | ZS3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | July 2014 | May 2009 | Newer by 62 months | |
| Manual focus | More accurate focus |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax XG-1
| ZS3 | XG-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed display | |
| Display dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal display size | |
| Display resolution | 460k | 460k | The same display resolution | |
| Selfie screen | Neither comes with selfie screen | |||
| Touch display | Neither comes with Touch display |
Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 comes with external measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax XG-1 has sizing of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") and a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).
Check the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the ZS3 compared to the XG-1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and XG-1 is 91 and 66 respectively.
Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The picture here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS3 and XG-1.
As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax XG-1 to deliver extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.
Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | Pentax XG-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Panasonic | Pentax |
| Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | Pentax XG-1 |
| Otherwise known as | Lumix DMC-TZ7 | - |
| Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
| Announced | 2009-05-14 | 2014-07-15 |
| Body design | Compact | SLR-like (bridge) |
| Sensor Information | ||
| 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 | 10MP | 16MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4608 x 3456 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
| Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detection AF | ||
| Contract detection AF | ||
| Phase detection AF | ||
| Total focus points | 11 | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | 25-300mm (12.0x) | 24-1248mm (52.0x) |
| Largest aperture | f/3.3-4.9 | f/2.8-5.6 |
| Macro focusing range | 3cm | 1cm |
| Crop factor | 5.9 | 5.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Screen resolution | 460k dot | 460k dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch display | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 200k dot |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 4 seconds |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting speed | 2.0fps | 9.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | 5.30 m (Auto ISO) | 6.00 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync | Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction |
| External flash | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | AVCHD Lite | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| 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 proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 229g (0.50 pounds) | 567g (1.25 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") | 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around 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 | - | 240 photos |
| Battery format | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | LB-060 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal | SD/SDHC |
| Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
| Price at launch | $200 | $599 |