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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 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 HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced September 2018
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS3 was unveiled 10 years earlier than the HX99 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the ZS3 matches up against the HX99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony HX99

 ZS3 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic ZS3

 HX99 ZS3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2018May 2009More recent by 113 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony HX99

 ZS3 HX99 
Display dimension3"3.00"Identical display sizing

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS3 comes with exterior dimensions 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 HX99 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony HX99 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS3 against the HX99.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and HX99 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The photograph here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and HX99.

All in all, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS3 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX99 will show extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography info
Sony HX99 Portrait photography info
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
53
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (242g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Sports photography camera
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (360 CIPA)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
Sony HX99 Travel photography details
63
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
76
good battery (360 shots)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
Landscape photography with Sony HX99
35
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
58
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3.00")
has image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
good battery (360 shots)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging advice
Sony HX99 Vlogging advice
30
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
76
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization
supports face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of external mic socket
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-05-14 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD Lite AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229g (0.50 pounds) 242g (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life - 360 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $200 $469