Panasonic ZS3 vs Panasonic S1 Comparison

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Panasonic ZS3

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

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Panasonic S1

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

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Panasonic ZS3 vs Panasonic S1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras by Panasonic. Panasonic ZS3 was introduced to market in May 2009 and Panasonic S1 was launched in January 2011. There is 20 months difference between ZS3 and S1 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger S1, especially in sensor tech.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Panasonic ZS3 has a 10.0 MP and Panasonic S1 has a 12.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 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

Panasonic S1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-01-05

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

28-112 mm F3.1-5.6 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7" Fixed Type Screen

Unknown continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

117g. 99 x 59 x 21 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1

LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.7"	0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2000s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 28mm	3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	300mm vs 112mm	188 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	12× vs 4×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele	4.90 vs 5.60	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	5.3m vs 3.3m	2m longer range

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 10 MP	19% more pixels
Weight	117 g vs 229 g	112 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	3.10 vs 3.30	faster lens at wide

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1

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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1

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 Size	3" vs 2.7"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 230k dots	Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	2.0fps vs fps	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 Panasonic S1: 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 Panasonic S1 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). Panasonic S1 has external dimensions of 99 x 59 x 21 mm (3.9 x 2.32 x 0.83″) and weighs 117 g (0.26 lb / 4.13 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1. Panasonic S1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 4mm narrower, 1mm shorter and 12mm thinner than Panasonic ZS3.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1.

Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1.

Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic S1 is significantly lighter (112g ) than the Panasonic ZS3 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS3

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS3

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Lumix DMC-TZ7) nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 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's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic S1's 2.7" screen.

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

Panasonic ZS3 vs Panasonic S1: 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, Panasonic S1 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine IV processor.

Below you can see the ZS3 and S1 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 Cameras

Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Panasonic S1 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens whereas Panasonic S1 features a 28-112 mm F3.1-5.6 4× zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS3 has 3mm wider coverage than the Panasonic S1. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.10, Panasonic S1 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS3 has 188mm longer reach than the Panasonic S1. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS3

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS3

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS3

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS3

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS3 and Panasonic S1 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

Panasonic S1 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 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 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

Panasonic S1 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
28 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

Panasonic ZS3 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic S1 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
11 Focus Points
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
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
112 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic S1 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
117g
Body Thickness 21mm
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic S1 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

28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic ZS3 vs Panasonic S1: 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 Panasonic S1, 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 Panasonic S1 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

Panasonic S1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #417 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1110 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS3 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic S1 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic S1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3	Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Brand	Panasonic	Panasonic
Announced	2009-05-14	2011-01-05
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area	27.72mm²	27.72mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 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	11
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-300 mm (12×)	28-112 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-4.9	F3.1-5.6
Macro Focus Range	3cm	5cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	2.7"
Resolution	460k dots	230k 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)	3.30 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps	n/a
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	117g
Dimensions	103 x 60 x 33mm	99 x 59 x 21mm
Battery Life	n/a	240 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction