Resolution:
10.1MP
LCD Size:
3inches
Optical Zoom:
12x
Picture Quality
8.5
Show what experts say (7 reviews)
Hide what experts say (7 reviews)
"Overall, the photo quality is quite good for its class. While not quite as sharp as that of the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS, the lens is sharper than the TZ5's with less distortion and practically no fringing. It renders excellent color, saturated and accurate, and generally exposes well..."
"Image quality too is outstanding. Colours are rich and vibrant, exposure is nearly always perfect, and the lens is, as we've come to expect from the Leica brand name, superb."
"If you're able to put this, as well as few image quality and usability niggles, behind you, though, the ZS3 looks like another clear advancement in Panasonic's compact ultrazoom line."
"The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 produced images of very good quality during the review period."
"You might think such a range in such a small body would result in serious optical compromises, but our results from the ZS3 really were very good."
"Image quality was very good in most respects. The DMC-ZS3 takes well-exposed photos, without a lot of highlight clipping that's common on compact cameras (you'll still encounter it, though). While accurate, sometimes I felt that the ZS3's colors could be a bit more vivid. Photos are sharp as a tack -- no complaints there."
"The image quality of our outdoor images is outstanding. Our sample pictures show excellent exposures and bright, vivid colors that really make your images pop."
Prints
7.5
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
Hide what experts say (5 reviews)
"Pixel peepers making large prints may well find anything shot above modest ISOs with this camera simply unacceptable."
"The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 produces noise-free images at ISO 100 and 200, with ISO 400 also looking good, although there's slight loss of saturation. ISO 800 shows some quite obvious noise and softening of fine detail, and ISO 1600 is even noisier, although still OK for small prints and web images."
"Image noise is also very well handled, considering that this is actually a 12.7MP 1/2.33-inch sensor, although I can't help but wonder how much better it could be if only Panasonic would switch to a larger sensor format."
"The additional Megapixel is an unnecessary but inevitable move, although noise levels are roughly the same as its predecessor and rival compacts. So like most small-sensor models the best results are had below 200 ISO, and if you’re really looking, you’ll see a fine smattering of noise even at the lowest sensitivities."
"ISO 400 is the first time noise appears in the image. Even then, the level is acceptable and will not be noticed in prints of 8x10 or larger."
Ergonomics
8.0
Show what experts say (6 reviews)
Hide what experts say (6 reviews)
"The size of the camera does mean that it's nice and easy to handle. There is a small but comfortable handgrip on the front, and a textured thumb-grip area on the back which make it easy to hold securely...there's plenty of room to grip the camera without them getting in the way."
"The ZS3's surface area and semi-cylindrical grip provide plenty of real estate for comfortably hanging on to the camera. The camera's typical-for-a-Lumix control arrangement clusters the camera's basic functions...within easy reach of your thumb, and even with the camera's large lens extended, balance was never a problem."
"Now positioned on the far right of the top of the camera, this dial has an unbelievably loose action, causing it to move out of position virtually every time that you store the ZS3 in a pocket or bag. Trust me, you'll quickly become sick and tired of seeing the message "Mode Dial is not in the proper position" displayed on the LCD screen."
"A hand grip on the right side makes the camera fit well enough into your hand that allowing operation of all cameras features with just one hand, including the mode dial and navigating the menus."
"The controls are perfectly place, and Panasonic left plenty of room for your fingers to grasp the camera."
"The ZS3 fits mostly well into the hand, but it does feel a little loose: the raised ridge on the side for the fingers to grip onto is small, and the sleek metal skin of the body looks good, but is rather slick, especially with sweaty hands."
Advanced Features
2.0
Show what experts say (6 reviews)
Hide what experts say (6 reviews)
"It would be nice if the camera had some more--OK, any--manual features, like the SX200 IS, but if you're looking for a real point and shoot with the flexibility to cover a large variety of shooting situations, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 offers a very compelling alternative."
"The ZS3 is designed to be relatively simple and easy to use, and lacks features such as manual exposure or focusing. However it still has a fairly wide range of user options…I'm not usually a big fan of 'idiot modes', preferring more manual control, but I have to admit the Panasonic...does produce excellent results in nearly all situations."
"Combining all of the bells and whistles of an enthusiast compact – except the manual exposure controls, that is – with the simplicity of its Intelligent Auto functions, the ZS3 is targeted to appeal to tech-savvy shooters and relative newbies alike."
"The ZS3 remains a mostly automatic camera, but at least Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto is one of the best on the market, having an uncanny ability to figure out what you’re trying to take. The ZS3 enhances this further with Face Recognition, which can register and remember a handful of regular subjects...in practice it works too."
"As this is purely a point and shoot camera with no manual controls, the Panasonic Lumix ZS3 is not overly complex in terms of the number of external controls that it has. The majority of the 13 controls are clearly labeled and common to most cameras."
"The Lumix DMC-ZS3 is a point-and-shoot camera with just one manual control, and that's for white balance. The camera has a ton of scene modes, covering every situation you could possibly encounter."
Menu System
8.0
Show what experts say (4 reviews)
Hide what experts say (4 reviews)
"The main menu system on the Panasonic Lumix ZS3 is straight-forward to use and is accessed by pressing the Menu/Set button in the middle of the navigation pad."
"On balance, Panasonic's user interface remains largely unchanged and relatively straightforward…. The ZS3's menus offer a lot of whiz-bang for gadget fans, but may also be a lot to sort through for novice users."
"The DMC-ZS3's menu system hasn't changed a whole lot since the TZ5. The main difference is that there's now a tab for video recording options (in addition to still photo and setup options). The menus are easy to navigate, and look fantastic on the ZS3's high resolution screen."
"The menus of the ZS3 are divided into two parts: the quick menu and the main menu. The quick menu (accessed by pressing the Q Menu button) contains the basic shooting controls that are used more frequently, such as ISO settings and image size."
Action and Sports
6.5
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
Hide what experts say (5 reviews)
"Having use of the ZS3's full zoom range [while recording video] sweetens the deal further, making the camera an excellent tool for grabbing short videos of kids' sporting events or wildlife."
"In continuous shooting mode it can manage 1.8 frames a second, which is very fast. It also has a three-shot burst option which is even faster.... There is a high-speed burst mode which can shoot at 10fps until the memory card is full, although it's limited to a maximum of 3MP."
"The Normal Burst and High Speed Burst Preset modes both involve compromises, either in total frames or resolution respectively, but are arguably more useful alternatives to the infinite, but very slow continuous rate of most rival models."
"The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 has a disappointingly slower Burst mode than the DMC-TZ5…"
"There are two burst modes to be found on the DMC-ZS3. You can take a quick burst at a high frame rate, or keep shooting until your memory card is full at a slower pace. In high speed mode, the camera took a measly three photos in a row, at 2.2 frames/second."
Snapshots
7.0
Show what experts say (7 reviews)
Hide what experts say (7 reviews)
"There were a few notable misses (a couple of times, the camera spent several seconds hunting for focus in the macro range when there was nothing there to focus on), but for casual shooters – and especially those who take lots of "people snapshots" – iA's combination of technologies works well enough to allow "set it and forget it" operation."
"The lens extends upon power-up with the camera ready for action in around 2.5 seconds – not the quickest by any means, but rarely does it hold you back."
"Despite the size of its lens the ZS3 starts up in well under two seconds, although it does take nearly three seconds to shut down again. In single-shot mode at the highest quality setting it has a shot-to-shot cycle time of comfortably under two seconds, which is pretty quick."
"Panasonic have tried to make things as easy as possible for the complete beginner by providing this shooting mode, which allows you to point and shoot the camera without having to worry about choosing the right mode or settings."
"The main mode dial on the top plate is very loose and has a very weak ratchet, and as a result it is easily turned accidentally and can end up between settings. Since the camera won't shoot unless the mode dial is correctly positioned this can cause annoying delays if you're trying to shoot quickly on the spur of the moment."
"The autofocus system is very good. It focuses quickly and accurately in almost any lighting condition at all, including pitch darkness thanks to a good bright AF lamp with a range of around three metres. Even at the long end of the zoom range the AF hardly ever hunts around, and focuses in under a second."
"Performance from the ZS3 is very good, although it is a little slow on start-up. After turning the camera on, you are able to capture your first image in 2.5 seconds. When pre-focused, the shutter lag is less than 1/10 of a second and between 6/10 and 7/10 of a second when allowing the autofocus to work."
Macro
7.0
Show what experts say (3 reviews)
Hide what experts say (3 reviews)
"Panasonic’s also improved the closest focusing distance from 5 to 3cm."
"Macro performance is good, allowing you to focus as close as 3 cms away from the subject. The images were a little soft straight out of the ZS3 at the default sharpening setting and ideally require some further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, as you can't change the in-camera setting."
"The Lumix DMC-ZS3 did a fairly good job with our macro test subject. The subject is sharp as a tack, though I couldn't help but notice some grain-like noise on the figurine. Colors are generally good, though the red cloak could be, well, redder."
Built-in Flash Performance
6.5
Show what experts say (4 reviews)
Hide what experts say (4 reviews)
"The ZS3's flash is powerful for a compact, with a range of roughly 15 feet at wide angle. At the same time, recycle times are snappy enough for back to back flash shooting, assuming you don't need full power for each shot."
"The built-in flash worked well indoors, with no red-eye and adequate exposure."
"The flash ahs been upgraded from the TZ5, and now has a maximum range of an impressive 5.3m at wide-angle."
"The ZS3 features a very powerful flash that had no problem properly lighting our scene from 6-feet away at ISO 80."
Zoom and Telephoto
7.0
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
Hide what experts say (5 reviews)
"While the 12x lens covers a nice focal range, 25-300mm-equivalent, it's fairly slow: maximum aperture is f3.3-4.9, depending upon the zoom."
"Lumix's Leica optics have rarely failed to impress us, and at the large level, the ZS3's glass is no exception. If the ZS3 has one key selling point and distinguishing feature, having outrageous wide-angle to solid telephoto range in a camera this pocketable is it."
"The zoom control is particularly nice. It is smooth and non-stepped, and the control has a progressive action, so it zooms faster the more you turn it."
"The large optical zoom range is the key selling point of the camera, packing super-zoom coverage into a pocketable compact…. Like all Panasonic cameras, the Lumix ZS3 employs optical image stabilisation – that’s pretty essential on a compact with a minimal grip and a 300mm equivalent telephoto."
"The lens in particular is a real triumph, providing both an ultra-wide 25mm angle of view and a 300mm telephoto setting that really will cover virtually every photographic situation that you'll encounter. The icing on the cake is the apparent lack of distortion at ether end of the range, no mean feat for such a small folded optic."
Low-Light
7.0
Show what experts say (6 reviews)
Hide what experts say (6 reviews)
"The Intelligent ISO mode is the third way in which the ZS3 attempts to avoid subject blur in low-light conditions. The camera automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed AND ISO speed for the subject that you are taking pictures of.... It's a clever idea that works well in practice..."
"While it takes a reasonable 0.5 second to focus and shoot in good light, its 1.1 seconds to do so in dimmer, lower contrast lighting is on the high side--too high."
"Focusing is quick in good light and the camera achieves focus most of the time indoors or in low-light situations, helped by the focus-assist lamp."
"The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds allowing you to capture plenty of light. Anti-shake is a feature that sets this camera apart from its competitors and one that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions or when using the telephoto end of the zoom range."
"The ZS3 performs well through ISO 400 in good light, and ISO 200 in low light."
"Our indoor image samples show the same great exposure and color, as well as a crisp image from edge to edge."
Video Quality
9.0
Show what experts say (7 reviews)
Hide what experts say (7 reviews)
"The HD movie mode is superb, arguably the best I've seen on a compact camera so far. Sound and picture quality rival the performance of a dedicated camcorder, and the progressive zoom action means you can do some nice slow zoom effects. Unfortunately clips are limited to 15 minutes, but this is not a major handicap."
"In use the ZS3 delivers a good video recording experience, but it’s not without its issues…. [It's] no substitute for a dedicated HD camcorder, but a good quality movie mode none-the-less, especially if you can work around the panning and optical zooming issues.
"The ZS3 shoots 1,280x720 30fps (720p) HD video, which gets saved in the AVCHD Lite format. This might be a bit of a problem on the software end.... The ZS3 can zoom--quietly, too--while shooting video, but the autofocus doesn't adjust while zooming and takes a second to lock again.... It's got a dedicated movie-record button, which comes in handy."
"Video performance is quite possibly the best you'll find on a still camera, though casual shooters may be frustrated by a lack of post-processing options for the camera's highest-quality 720p video files.... Even better, the camera provides a top-mounted stereo mic."
"The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 is definitely not a replacement for a dedicated HD video camcorder, but it undoubtedly provides some of the best HD movies that we've seen from a compact camera, making it perfect for more casual users."
"Panasonic also opted to allow for zooming while capturing video – though it's worth noting that, presumably in the interest of controlling motor noise, the zoom moves very slowly while you're filming."
"The ZS3 is the world's first compact camera to record HD video via the AVCHD compression. This allows you to capture more HD video because the compression uses less memory than the standard motion JPEG without losing the image quality from the video."
LCD Screen
9.0
Show what experts say (6 reviews)
Hide what experts say (6 reviews)
"The monitor itself is superb. With a resolution of 460,000 dots it's twice as sharp as most other compact camera screens, and has an exceptionally wide viewing angle in all directions. It also has automatic brightness control, and although it is a bit reflective and prone to glare, it is bright enough to see clearly in bright daylight."
"Panasonic landed quite the punch when they brought a 3.0 inch, 460,000 dot LCD to the TZ cameras, and while we've had some nits to pick and inconsistencies to sort out with this particular display in the past, the unit on our ZS3 proved flawless in testing.... I had no trouble using the screen in everything but direct sunlight."
"The 3-inch LCD looks nice, but tends to get reflective in direct sunlight making it difficult to frame scenes, especially if you're trying to view off-angle."
"Round the back is the same 3in / 460k pixel screen as its predecessor – 460k corresponds to a resolution of 480x320 pixels, allowing the screen to display much finer detail than the 320x240 pixel resolution of average 230k screens.... The full benefit [of the high-resolution screen] is seen during playback, rather than composition.
"The very large 3 inch LCD screen is the only way of framing your shots, so if you have to have an optical viewfinder, look elsewhere now, but I found that the 460K pixel, high-resolution screen coped admirably with the majority of lighting conditions, even being nice to use in low-light."
"Framing and viewing your images is done via the 3-inch, 460,000 dot LCD screen. It is one of the highest quality screens that we have seen on a compact digicam, showing you more detail than ever before. It is easy to see in all lighting conditions including direct sunlight..."
Battery Life
6.0
Show what experts say (4 reviews)
Hide what experts say (4 reviews)
"Battery life with the ZS3's proprietary lithium-ion pack proved to be quite excellent in the field: a little more than two hours on the charger and the battery was ready to go, and surprised us by consistently living up to the nearly 300-shot advertised performance assuming we used the video function sparingly."
"The only slight area of concern is the battery, which is a smaller 895mAh li-ion unit, but this is still larger than most compact camera batteries, and Panasonic claims 300 shots on a full charge, a figure which I have no reason to doubt."
"After using the same rechargeable Lithium Ion pack for a couple of generations, the Lumix ZS3 is now powered by a new battery, the DMW-BCG10E, which with a 895mAh rating, is slightly less powerful than the 1000mAh of its predecessor. That said, both cameras share the same 300-shot lifespan under CIPA conditions."
"Despite Panasonic's switch to a less powerful battery, the ZS3 not only has the same battery life numbers as its predecessor -- it's also the best in its class."
Build Quality
8.0
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
Hide what experts say (5 reviews)
"The build quality, like previous Lumix compacts, is excellent. The metal body feels confidently solid with no creaks or poor joins."
"The ZS3 is a well-built camera with a high quality metal body…. [It's] well-made overall, although there are a couple of external controls that don't instill much confidence."
"The ZS series has always been sold as travel cameras, and the ZS3 is designed to survive a bit of rough treatment. The overall build quality is extremely good…"
"Panasonic is known for rugged construction and bold, industrial-esque design in their flagship Lumix models, and in this sense, the ZS3 breaks no new ground."
"The ZS3 is well built, made almost entirely of metal. The only thing that feels a bit flimsy to me is the door over the memory card / battery compartment."
Size
5.0
Show what experts say (4 reviews)
Hide what experts say (4 reviews)
"It remains a relatively chunky compact that’s better suited to trouser and coat pockets rather than the one on the front of a shirt. It’s important to put this in perspective though, as there’s plenty of compacts which share similar dimensions yet have zoom ranges three to four times lower."
"Overall, the ZS3 claims a 10 percent size reduction when compared to the TZ cameras, and although it's still a formidable model compared to many ultracompacts (and hardly pocket-size besides), the ZS3 still slightly bests the competitive Canon SX200 in compactness."
"At 7.7 ounces with dimensions of 2.4 inches by 4.1 inches by 1.3 inches, the ZS3 counts as compact, and fits quite comfortably in a jacket pocket."
"Although it isn't the smallest digicam on the market, its features and capabilities more than make up for the size."
Customer Service
7.0
Show what experts say (2 reviews)
Hide what experts say (2 reviews)
Panasonic received an 8.4 out of 10 in a 2008 survey of PC Magazine readers, which measured companies across 6 criteria to determine customer service satisfaction. Panasonic ranked 3rd out of the 12 digital camera manufacturers in the survey.
"Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F… Reasons for this rating include: Number of complaints filed against business, failure to respond to complaints filed against business, number of complaints filed against business that were not resolved and length of time business has taken to resolve complaint(s)."
Reliability and Warranty
7.5
Show what experts say (1 reviews)
Hide what experts say (1 reviews)
Panasonic was rated ABOVE AVERAGE in a 2008 survey of 44,000 PC World readers measuring the "overall satisfaction with reliability" of digital cameras. There were 13 manufacturers scored, 7 of which were average, 4 were above average and 2 were below average.
Company Social Responsibility
5.0
Show what experts say (1 reviews)
Hide what experts say (1 reviews)
Panasonic scored a 4.9 out of 10 on Greenpeace's September 2009 Guide to Greener Electronics, which ranks the top electronics manufacturers on their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. Panasonic was 10th out of the 18 electronics companies in the guide.
Measy Score
n/a
your personal score based on a quiz
get your score »
get your score »
Review Score
9.2
smart average based on expert reviews
read reviews »
read reviews »
Release Date
April 20, 2009
General Specs
Resolution:
10.1 MP
LCD Size:
3 inches
Lens Type
Optical Zoom:
12 x
Digital Zoom:
4 x
Focal Length Minimum:
4.1 mm
Focal Length Maximum:
49.2 mm
Wide-Angle (35mm equivalent):
25 mm
Focal Length Maximum (35mm equivalent):
300 mm
Battery
Has
Proprietary Battery
Features
Has
Video Recording
Has
HD Video Recording
Has
Built-in Flash
Has
HDMI
Storage
Has
Secure Digital (SD) / SDHC Card Support
File Support and Connectivity
Has
USB
Has
JPEG Support
Has
A/V Out
Style
Has
Black
Has
Multiple Colors
Size and Type
Width:
4.07 inches
Height:
2.35 inches
Depth:
1.29 inches
Weight:
7.2 ounces
Volume (in cubic inches):
12.3
Has
Protruding Lens
