Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A700

Below is a detailed overview of the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A700, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS3 (10MP) and the A700 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the ZS3 (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The ZS3 was released 18 months later than the A700 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS3 grades versus the A700 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A700. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS3 Gallery & Sony A700 Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS3 has got outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony A700 has specifications of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") with a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony A700 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the ZS3 vs the A700.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and A700 is 91 and 58 respectively.

In many cases, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The visual underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS3 and A700.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A700 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The younger ZS3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.