Panasonic SZ3 has a
16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Canon A3000 IS has a
10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .
Panasonic SZ3's sensor provides 6MP more than Canon A3000 IS's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Below you can see the SZ3 and A3000 IS sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic SZ3 and Canon A3000 IS Cameras
Panasonic SZ3 and Canon A3000 IS have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Panasonic SZ3
or the
Canon A3000 IS ,
including hyperfocal distance.
