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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
55
Overall
53

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 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
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Panasonic ZS3 versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The ZS3 was introduced 12 months prior to the NEX-3 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the ZS3 grades vs the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony NEX-3

 ZS3 NEX-3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Panasonic ZS3

 NEX-3 ZS3 
AnnouncedJune 2010May 2009More recent by 12 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony NEX-3

 ZS3 NEX-3 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS3 offers exterior dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has measurements of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS3 versus Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS3 against the NEX-3.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and NEX-3 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS3 and NEX-3.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-3 will offer extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography advice
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-3 Sports photography information
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
51
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competition (229 grams)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
59
decent megapixels (14MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography advice
35
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
67
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
Vlogging with Sony NEX-3
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
27
includes face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony NEX-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Alpha NEX-3
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-05-14 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229 grams (0.50 lbs) 297 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $200 $0