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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Released May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Launched July 2010
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony WX5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS3 (10MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is relatively similar and both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS3 was announced 14 months earlier than the WX5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the ZS3 scores vs the WX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Sony WX5

 ZS3 WX5 
Screen size3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Panasonic ZS3

 WX5 ZS3 
LaunchedJuly 2010May 2009More recent by 14 months
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony WX5

 ZS3 WX5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 enjoys exterior dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony WX5 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS3 and Sony WX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the ZS3 against the WX5.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and WX5 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS3 and WX5.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony WX5 to offer greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older ZS3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX5 Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography info
Sony WX5 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography factors
Sony WX5 Sports photography factors
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography info
Sony WX5 Travel photography info
63
lighter than others (229g)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
58
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
Landscape photography with Sony WX5
35
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
37
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (2.8")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS3
Vlogging with Sony WX5
30
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Sony WX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-05-14 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.8 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, 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
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 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 229 gr (0.50 pounds) 146 gr (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $200 $250