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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300

Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 front
Portability
94
Imaging
42
Features
38
Overall
40

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 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
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Sony WX300
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.5) lens
  • 166g - 96 x 55 x 25mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Replacement is Sony WX350
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and WX300 (18MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was manufactured 4 years before the WX300 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the ZS3 matches up versus the WX300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony WX300

 ZS3 WX300 

Reasons to pick Sony WX300 over the Panasonic ZS3

 WX300 ZS3 
RevealedFebruary 2013May 2009More modern by 45 months

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony WX300

 ZS3 WX300 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS3 features external 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 WX300 has dimensions of 96mm x 55mm x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 166 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS3 compared to the WX300.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and WX300 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The picture here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS3 and WX300.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony WX300 to offer extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography features
Sony WX300 Portrait photography features
19
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
good resolution (18MP)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX300 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (166 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography features
Sony WX300 Sports photography features
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
Sony WX300 Travel photography advice
62
lighter than competition in class (229g)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
71
lighter than competitors in class (166g)
good resolution (18MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography info
Sony WX300 Landscape photography info
35
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
44
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging information
Sony WX300 Vlogging information
29
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
35
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (166g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony WX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-05-14 2013-02-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 10MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-6.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 4.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229 gr (0.50 pounds) 166 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 96 x 55 x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $200 $330