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Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV 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
Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Replaced the Ricoh GR Digital III
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Ricoh GR Digital IV, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Ricoh. The sensor resolution of the ZS3 (10MP) and the GR Digital IV (10MP) is fairly well matched but the ZS3 (1/2.3") and GR Digital IV (1/1.7") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS3 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the GR Digital IV and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the ZS3 grades versus the GR Digital IV with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 ZS3 GR Digital IV 

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Panasonic ZS3

 GR Digital IV ZS3 
LaunchedSeptember 2011May 2009More recent by 28 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution1230k460kSharper display (+770k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Ricoh GR Digital IV

 ZS3 GR Digital IV 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS3 has outer measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Ricoh GR Digital IV has measurements of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Ricoh GR Digital IV in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS3 compared to the GR Digital IV.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and GR Digital IV is 91 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS3 and GR Digital IV.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor measurements. The ZS3 features the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field more challenging. The older ZS3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Portrait photography camera
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
41
manual focus
supports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography details
Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography info
Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography info
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery pack (390 shots)
can't change focal length (28mm)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
better than average battery pack (390 CIPA)
flash built-in
good max aperture (f1.9)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography details
Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography details
35
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
53
manual focus
good max aperture (f1.9)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (390 per charge)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Vlogging camera
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
29
good max aperture (f1.9)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Ricoh GR Digital IV
General Information
Brand Panasonic Ricoh
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Ricoh GR Digital IV
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-05-14 2011-09-15
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28mm (1x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/1.9
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 1,230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 1 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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) 190 grams (0.42 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 390 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - DB65
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $200 $599