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Overview
In this comparison, we will evaluate the Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.
Both cameras were introduced in January 2011. Let us first list highlights of the models.
Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.
Pros and Cons
In this section we present pros and cons of Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1.
PROS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Video Capture
6,400 Highest Native ISO
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Internal Storage
Orientation Sensor
Video Capture
6,400 Highest Native ISO
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Internal Storage
Orientation Sensor
CONS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Sensor - 14.1 Megapixel
Timelapse Recording
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
No Built-In Bluetooth
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life - 250 shots
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
Timelapse Recording
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
No Built-In Bluetooth
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life - 240 shots
And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:
We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.
STRENGTHS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Video Capture
High Native ISO
6,400
6,400
Live View Autofocus
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Light
117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Internal Storage
70 MB
20 MB
Orientation Sensor
WEAKNESSES
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Small Sensor
1/2.33-inch
1/2.33-inch
Low Resolution Sensor
14.1 Megapixel
12.1 Megapixel
Timelapse Recording
Few Focus Points
11
11
Few Cross-type Focus Points
0
0
No Face Detection
Screen Type
Fixed
Fixed
Low Resolution Screen
230k dot
230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)
1/1600 sec
1/1600 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
Low Video Resolution
1280 x 720
1280 x 720
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
No Built-In Bluetooth
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life
250 shots
240 shots
Screen
Screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 have 2.70" Fixed screens with 230k dot resolution.
Sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 features a 14.1 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 100 - 6,400. Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 features a 12.1 megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.08 x 4.56 mm and a total area of 20.8 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400.
Photography Features
Cameras are equipped with Venus Engine IV processor.
Image Stabilization
The cameras have a built-in [y] image stabilization.
Connectivity, Battery and Storage
USB Inputs
Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer.
External Storage Slots
Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.
Other Features
Shutter
Shutter speed can go up to 1/1600 sec on Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3, and up to 1/1600 sec on Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 can shoot continuously up to 1.5 fps.
Flash
Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 3.30 m...
Physical Parameters
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 bodies have the same dimensions of 99 x 59 x 21 mm (3.9 x 2.32 x 0.83") and they both weigh 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
99 mm
59 mm
99 mm
59 mm
59 mm
59 mm
21 mm
21 mm
Size comparisons of Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 for Different Types of Photography
We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.
Landscape Photography
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
46
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
POOR
46
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Sports Photography
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
54
6,400 Highest Native ISO
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
Short Battery Life - 250 shots
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
56
6,400 Highest Native ISO
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Short Battery Life - 240 shots
Orientation Sensor
Wildlife Photography
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
AVERAGE
60
6,400 Highest Native ISO
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life - 250 shots
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
62
6,400 Highest Native ISO
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
No Environmental Sealing
Short Battery Life - 240 shots
Orientation Sensor
Portrait Photography
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
AVERAGE
59
Small Sensor
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No External Flash Connectivity
Orientation Sensor
AVERAGE
59
Small Sensor
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Image Stabilization
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No External Flash Connectivity
Orientation Sensor
Street Photography
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
GOOD
83
Small Sensor
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
GOOD
83
Small Sensor
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Travel Photography
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
EXCELLENT
87
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Short Battery Life - 250 shots
EXCELLENT
87
Image Stabilization
Fixed Screen
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
No Built-in GPS
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Short Battery Life - 240 shots
Evaluations
We evaluate Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 and give them scores of 48 and 47 out of 100 recpectively. 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.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
OVERALL
48
OVERALL
47
Sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
46
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Sensor - 14.1 Megapixel
100 Lowest Native ISO
6,400 Highest Native ISO
POOR
45
Small Sensor
Low Resolution Sensor - 12.1 Megapixel
100 Lowest Native ISO
6,400 Highest Native ISO
Photo
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
AVERAGE
59
Timelapse Recording
Image Stabilization
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
No External Flash Connectivity
AVERAGE
62
Timelapse Recording
Image Stabilization
Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1600 sec
No External Flash Connectivity
Video
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
43
Image Stabilization
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
POOR
43
Image Stabilization
Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
Focusing
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
47
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
POOR
47
11 Focus Points
0 Cross-type Focus Points
No Face Detection
Live View Autofocus
Screen and Viewfinder
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
50
Fixed Screen
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
POOR
50
Fixed Screen
Screen Size - 2.70"
Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
No Viewfinder
Connectivity
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
44
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
No Built-In Bluetooth
BAD
36
No HDMI Output
No Microphone Input
No Headphone Output
No Built-in GPS
No Built-In Wi-Fi
No Built-In Bluetooth
Battery, Storage and Physical
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
POOR
43
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Short Battery Life - 250 shots
Internal Storage
POOR
43
No Environmental Sealing
Light - 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz)
Short Battery Life - 240 shots
Internal Storage
For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:
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