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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
45
Features
57
Overall
49

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V 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
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed April 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX30V
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS3 versus Sony HX50V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and HX50V (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was released 5 years earlier than the HX50V which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS3 scores against the HX50V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony HX50V

 ZS3 HX50V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Panasonic ZS3

 HX50V ZS3 
RevealedApril 2013May 2009Newer by 48 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony HX50V

 ZS3 HX50V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS3 features external 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) while the Sony HX50V has proportions of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS3 versus Sony HX50V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS3 against the HX50V.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS3 and HX50V is 91 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The image here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS3 and HX50V.

To sum up, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX50V to give you more detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
51
manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
comes with face detect focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (272g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography features
Sony HX50V Sports photography features
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than others in class (229g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
better than average battery life (400 per charge)
lighter than others in class (272 grams)
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
Landscape photography with Sony HX50V
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
54
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
better than average battery life (400 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX50V as a Vlogging camera
30
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (272g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony HX50V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Alternative name Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-05-14 2013-04-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 2920
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 lb) 272g (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
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 - 400 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $200 $439