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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 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
  • Announced May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony H55, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and H55 (14MP) but they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was announced 13 months prior to the H55 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the ZS3 grades vs the H55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony H55

 ZS3 H55 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Panasonic ZS3

 H55 ZS3 
IntroducedJune 2010May 2009More recent by 13 months

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony H55

 ZS3 H55 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS3 features exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony H55 has specifications of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony H55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS3 and the H55.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and H55 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS3 and H55.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony H55 to give you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older ZS3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony H55 Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography info
Sony H55 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
Sports photography with Sony H55
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
Sony H55 Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
67
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
Landscape photography with Sony H55
35
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
42
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging advice
Sony H55 Vlogging advice
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
28
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony H55
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-05-14 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229 grams (0.50 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $200 $235