Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230
91 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31


95 Imaging
34 Features
25 Overall
30
Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- 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 Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 30-120mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
- 156g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
- Introduced February 2009

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Overview
Below is a complete comparison of the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS3 (10MP) and the W230 (12MP) is fairly close and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The ZS3 was unveiled 3 months later than the W230 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the ZS3 scores vs the W230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS3 Gallery & Sony W230 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony W230
ZS3 | W230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony W230 over the Panasonic ZS3
W230 | ZS3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very precise focus |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony W230
ZS3 | W230 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | May 2009 | ![]() | February 2009 | Same age |
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical display dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither provides Touch display |
Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS3 provides outer measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony W230 has specifications of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).
Analyze the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the ZS3 compared to the W230.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and W230 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The graphic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS3 and W230.
Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony W230 to provide you with greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 |
Also Known as | Lumix DMC-TZ7 | - |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2009-05-14 | 2009-02-17 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 25-300mm (12.0x) | 30-120mm (4.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/3.3-4.9 | f/2.8-5.8 |
Macro focusing distance | 3cm | 4cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 1 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 2.0 frames per sec | 2.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.30 m (Auto ISO) | 3.90 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
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) | 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 640x480 |
Video file format | AVCHD Lite | Motion JPEG |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 229 grams (0.50 lbs) | 156 grams (0.34 lbs) |
Dimensions | 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") | 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
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 | ||
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail cost | $200 | $180 |