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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
25
Overall
30

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS3
(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
Sony W230
(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
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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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony W230

 ZS3 W230 
Display resolution460k230kSharper 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 
IntroducedMay 2009February 2009Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 size comparison

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

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W230 as a Portrait photography camera
19
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography highlights
Sony W230 Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography advice
Sony W230 Sports photography advice
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
Sony W230 Travel photography details
63
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W230 as a Landscape photography camera
35
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
36
you can focus manually
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging features
Sony W230 Vlogging features
30
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony W230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony W230
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony 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