Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

    49
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    Highlights

    • 10 MP 1/2.33-inch CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 6,400 Native ISO
    • 11 Focus Points
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
    • 2.3 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 was announced in 2009 and is a 1/2.33-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm) Standard Compact camera with 10 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 6,400. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 460k dot resolution. It has an image stabilization.

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 can capture video up to 1280 x 720 resolution.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Screen
    4. Sensor
    5. Photography Features
    6. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    7. Other Features
    8. Physical Parameters
    9. For Different Types of Photography
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Here is the Panasonic -ZSx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Panasonic -ZSx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Panasonic ZS8
    Compare
    		July
    2011    		 14.1 MP
    1/2.33-inch    		 100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Panasonic ZS7
    Compare
    		July
    2011    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.33-inch    		 80 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Panasonic ZS5
    Compare
    		June
    2010    		 12.1 MP
    1/2.33-inch    		 80 - 6,400 Fixed 2.70"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Panasonic ZS3 May
    2009    		 10 MP
    1/2.33-inch    		 80 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Panasonic ZS1
    Compare
    		May
    2009    		 10.1 MP
    1/2.5-inch    		 100 - 6,400 Fixed 2.70"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs Lumix DMC-ZS7 vs Lumix DMC-ZS5 vs Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs Lumix DMC-ZS1.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   Light - 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz)
    •   Internal Storage
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10 Megapixel
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.3 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 3.0"

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 460k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.

    Sensor

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 features a 10 megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.08 x 4.56 mm and a total area of 27.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 6,400.

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 3648 x 2736 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3776 x 2520, 3968 x 2232, 3072 x 2304, 3168 x 2112, 3328 x 1872, 2560 x 1920, 2656 x 1768, 2784 x 1568, 2048 x 1536, 2112 x 1408, 2208 x 1248, 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 with 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Image Stabilization

    The camera has an image stabilization.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3.

    Panasonic ZS1
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.5-inch

    10.1 MP

    Panasonic ZS7
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.33-inch

    12.1 MP

    Panasonic ZS5
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.33-inch

    12.1 MP

    Panasonic ZS8
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.33-inch

    14.1 MP

    Panasonic FX580
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.33-inch

    12 MP

    Canon 7D II
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Sony a7 III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.2 MP

    Canon R50
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon R10
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon R100
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.1 MP

    Canon R7
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    32.5 MP

    Sony a7S III
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    12.1 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Internal Storage and External Storage Slots

    The camera has 40 MB internal storage and a single SD/MMC/SDHC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3's shutter speed can go up to 1/2000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 2.3 fps.


    Flash

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 5.30 m Auto ISO.

    Physical Parameters

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 has dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3"). It weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    103 mm (4.06")

    60 mm (2.36")

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    60 mm (2.36")

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    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 dimensions

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    POOR
    46

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets a score of 46 and is POOR choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    55

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets a score of 55 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.3 fps
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    60

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets a score of 60 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.3 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    AVERAGE
    60

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets a score of 60 and is AVERAGE choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    82

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    86

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets a score of 86 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz)

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Evaluation

    We evaluate Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and give score of 49 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    49

    Sensor

    POOR
    45

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 45 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    58

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 58 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.3 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    POOR
    43

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 43 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720

    Focusing

    POOR
    54

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 54 for Focusing parameters.

    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    POOR
    53

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 53 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    BAD
    38

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 38 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    48

    We give Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 a score of 48 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz)
    •   Internal Storage


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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