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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II 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
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A99
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic ZS3 versus Sony A99 II, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and A99 II (Full frame) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS3 was unveiled 8 years before the A99 II which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the ZS3 grades versus the A99 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony A99 II

 ZS3 A99 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Panasonic ZS3

 A99 II ZS3 
IntroducedSeptember 2016May 2009Newer by 89 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony A99 II

 ZS3 A99 II 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS3 enjoys physical measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 II has specifications of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS3 versus Sony A99 II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS3 vs the A99 II.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and A99 II is 91 and 57 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The image here should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS3 and A99 II.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS3 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A99 II will provide you with greater detail having an extra 32MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
Portrait photography with Sony A99 II
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
85
has manual focus
MP count high (42MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography factors
Sony A99 II Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography factors
Sony A99 II Sports photography factors
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
81
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (490 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
70
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
MP count high (42MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery (490 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography features
Sony A99 II Landscape photography features
35
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
81
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (42 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (490 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
Vlogging with Sony A99 II
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
78
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic jack
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony A99 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Alpha A99 II
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-05-14 2016-09-19
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 42 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 7952 x 5304
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 399
Cross type focus points - 79
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 849g (1.87 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 2317
Other
Battery life - 490 shots
Battery format - NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Storage slots Single Two
Cost at launch $200 $3,198