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Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20

Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Ricoh WG-20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Key Specs

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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Ricoh WG-20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2014
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Panasonic ZS3 and Ricoh WG-20, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Panasonic and Ricoh. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and WG-20 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was announced 5 years prior to the WG-20 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZS3 scores against the WG-20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Ricoh WG-20

 ZS3 WG-20 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-20 over the Panasonic ZS3

 WG-20 ZS3 
RevealedFebruary 2014May 2009More recent by 57 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Ricoh WG-20

 ZS3 WG-20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS3 has physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Ricoh WG-20 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS3 and Ricoh WG-20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS3 compared to the WG-20.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and WG-20 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The visual here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and WG-20.

All in all, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Ricoh WG-20 to deliver more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography info
Ricoh WG-20 Portrait photography info
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
39
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography advice
Ricoh WG-20 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
62
image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography information
Ricoh WG-20 Sports photography information
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
43
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (14MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography features
Ricoh WG-20 Travel photography features
62
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
71
environment proofing
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography advice
Ricoh WG-20 Landscape photography advice
35
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
46
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
environment proofing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh WG-20 as a Vlogging camera
29
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
30
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
provides face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Ricoh WG-20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Ricoh WG-20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Ricoh WG-20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Ricoh
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Ricoh WG-20
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2009-05-14 2014-02-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 4.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30p, 15p), 640 x 480 (30p, 15p), 320 x 240 (30p, 15p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 pounds) 164g (0.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 - 260 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $200 $370