Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SD970 IS Comparison

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Panasonic ZS3

10 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

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Canon SD970 IS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

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Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SD970 IS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Panasonic and Canon. Panasonic ZS3 was introduced to market in May 2009 and Canon SD970 IS was launched in February 2009. There is only 3 months difference between ZS3 and SD970 IS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Panasonic ZS3 has a 10.0 MP and Canon SD970 IS has a 12.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-05-14

10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

2 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

229g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ7

Canon SD970 IS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-02-18

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

37-185 mm F3.2-5.7 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

1 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

160g. 96 x 57 x 26 mm

Also known as Digital IXUS 990 IS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 over Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

Max ISO	6.400 vs 1.600	300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points	11 vs 9	2 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2000s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting	2.0fps vs 1.0fps	1 fps faster
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 37mm	12 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 185mm	115 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12× vs 5×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele	4.90 vs 5.70	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	5.3m vs 3.5m	1.8m longer range

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SD970 IS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 10 MP	19% more pixels
Weight	160 g vs 229 g	69 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	3.20 vs 3.30	faster lens at wide

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light

Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 461k dots	Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	2.0fps vs 1.0fps	Slow shooting speeds
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SD970 IS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS3 has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″) and weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz) (including batteries). Canon SD970 IS has external dimensions of 96 x 57 x 26 mm (3.78 x 2.24 x 1.02″) and weighs 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS. Canon SD970 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 7mm narrower, 3mm shorter and 7mm thinner than Panasonic ZS3.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SD970 IS is significantly lighter (69g ) than the Panasonic ZS3 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS3

SD970 IS

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS3

SD970 IS

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Lumix DMC-TZ7) nor Canon PowerShot SD970 IS / Digital IXUS 990 IS provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SD970 IS: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Canon SD970 IS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the ZS3 and SD970 IS sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS Cameras

Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SD970 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Canon SD970 IS features a 37-185 mm F3.2-5.7 5× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS3 has 12mm wider coverage than the Canon SD970 IS. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.20, Canon SD970 IS is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS3 has 115mm longer reach than the Canon SD970 IS. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS3

SD970 IS

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS3

SD970 IS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS3

SD970 IS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS3

SD970 IS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS3 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SD970 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SD970 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
37 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon SD970 IS for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
11 Focus Points
300 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Image Stabilization
185 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon SD970 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
229g
12.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Compact Body
160g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SD970 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
37 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 vs Canon SD970 IS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS3 and Canon SD970 IS scores compare:

Panasonic ZS3

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #342 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #996 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SD970 IS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #288 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #916 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SD970 IS has a higher Overall Score but this doesn't make it an easy decision. Canon SD970 IS may have better image quality, more features and smaller body compared to but Panasonic ZS3 offers higher value for the money.
If you are a price conscious buyer and don't need the extra features, image quality and compactness that Canon SD970 IS offers, Panasonic ZS3 is the better choice for you. In all other cases, we recommend the Canon SD970 IS!

Canon SD970 IS vs Panasonic ZS3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3	Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Brand	Panasonic	Canon
Announced	2009-05-14	2009-02-18
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	27.72mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-300 mm (12×)	37-185 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-4.9	F3.2-5.7
Macro Focus Range	3cm	2cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	460k dots	461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.30 m (Auto ISO)	3.50 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps	1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1280 x 720
Video Formats	AVCHD Lite	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	229g	160g
Dimensions	103 x 60 x 33mm	96 x 57 x 26mm
Battery Life	n/a	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction