Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Review

Main Features

12MP - 1/2.33" CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

28-128 mm F3.3-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7″ Fixed Type Screen

4 fps continuous shooting

1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in GPS

197g. 103 x 64 x 27 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Also known as Lumix DMC-FT3

Replaced Panasonic TS2

Replaced by Panasonic TS4

$379.99

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Panasonic TS3 Overview

First introduced in August 2011 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 is a 12.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor. TS3 is also sold as Lumix DMC-FT3 in some of the countries. Panasonic replaced the older Panasonic TS2 with this model and later TS3 was replaced with Panasonic TS4. Follow the links to compare these cameras in detail:
Compare Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 (Lumix DMC-FT3) vs Panasonic TS2
Compare Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 (Lumix DMC-FT3) vs Panasonic TS4
or try our multi-camera comparison:
Compare Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 (Lumix DMC-FT3) vs TS2 vs TS4

Panasonic TS3 has an Overall Score of 43/100 and ranked #207 out of 626 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #688 out of 1173 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Panasonic TS3 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Panasonic TS3 Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Panasonic TS3 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Water Proof

Shock Proof

Freeze Proof

Image Stabilization

1920 x 1080 Max Video Resolution

Built-in GPS

11 Focus Points

Long Battery Life (310 shots)

197g Light Body

Environmental Sealing

3D Shooting Capability

Buy Panasonic TS3 from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

Small LCD Screen ( 2.7″)

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

1/1300s Low Max Shutter Speed

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.30

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

Panasonic TS3 Sensor and Photography Features

Panasonic TS3 has a 12.0MP 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine FHD processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. TS3 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 but unfortunately, Panasonic TS3 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Fujifilm X30 in the same price range.

Panasonic TS3 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic TS3 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Panasonic TS3's 1/2.33" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Panasonic TS3 Physical Specs

Panasonic TS3 weighs 197 g (0.43 lb / 6.95 oz) and has external dimensions of 103 x 64 x 27 mm (4.06 x 2.52 x 1.06″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 27mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Panasonic TS3

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Panasonic TS3

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Panasonic TS3 with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Panasonic TS3, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Panasonic TS3 with its main competitors:

Panasonic TS3 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs TS3	Thickness	vs TS3
Panasonic TS6	16.0MP - 1/2.33"	214g	17g heavier	29mm	2mm thicker
Panasonic TS5	16.0MP - 1/2.33"	214g	17g heavier	29mm	2mm thicker
Panasonic TS4	12.0MP - 1/2.33"	197g	equal weight	27mm	equal thickness
Panasonic TS30	16.0MP - 1/2.33"	142g	55g lighter	20mm	7mm thinner
Panasonic TS2	14.0MP - 1/2.33"	188g	9g lighter	24mm	3mm thinner
Olympus TG-3	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	247g	50g heavier	31mm	4mm thicker
Fujifilm X30	12.0MP - 2/3	423g	226g heavier	60mm	33mm thicker
Canon G16	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	356g	159g heavier	40mm	13mm thicker

Panasonic TS3 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, freezeproof)

Panasonic TS3 Lens

Panasonic TS3 features a 28-128 mm F3.3-5.9 4.6× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm, and 128mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

TS3

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

TS3

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.30 at 28mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f5.90.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

TS3

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

TS3

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

TS3 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Panasonic TS3 Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Panasonic TS3 has a Fixed Type 2.7″ LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.7″, the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

TS3 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Fujifilm X30 (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Max Shutter speed
Panasonic TS3 can shoot continuously at max speed of 4 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1300 sec.

Flash
Unfortunately TS3 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing
Panasonic TS3 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.

Video Features
With Panasonic TS3, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps and save in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. Full HD resolution of Panasonic TS3 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

TS3 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
Panasonic TS3 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 or Fujifilm X30 in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

You can connect TS3 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery Panasonic TS3 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 310 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, Panasonic TS3 has a good battery life for its class.

Battery Life Comparison in Waterproof Cameras

Panasonic TS3

Min

Average

Max

Olympus TG-4 with its 380shots is the model with longest battery life among Waterproof cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic TS3 vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Panasonic TS3 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Panasonic TS6 >>Compare to TS3	1920 x 1080	370shots	Yes	No	Yes
Panasonic TS5 >>Compare to TS3	1920 x 1080	370shots	Yes	No	Yes
Panasonic TS4 >>Compare to TS3	1920 x 1080	310shots	No	No	No
Panasonic TS30 >>Compare to TS3	1280 x 720	250shots	No	No	No
Panasonic TS2 >>Compare to TS3	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Olympus TG-3 >>Compare to TS3	1920 x 1080	330shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm X30 >>Compare to TS3	1920 x 1080	470shots	Yes	No	No
Canon G16 >>Compare to TS3	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	No

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Panasonic TS3 is $379.99

What type of Photography is Panasonic TS3 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Panasonic TS3 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the TS3 compares with the average Compact camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Panasonic TS3 for Portrait Photography

Panasonic TS3 has a score of 19 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTS3.

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 of how we scored Panasonic TS3 for Portrait Photography

Panasonic TS3 for Street Photography

Panasonic TS3 has a score of 47 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Image Stabilization
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS3 for Street Photography

Panasonic TS3 for Sports Photography

Panasonic TS3 has a score of 19 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTS3.

Environmental Sealings
11 Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
128 mm Tele Lens
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1300s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS3 for Sports Photography

Panasonic TS3 for Daily Photography

Panasonic TS3 has a score of 65 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
197g
Environmental Sealings

5X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS3 for Daily Photography

Panasonic TS3 for Landscape Photography

Panasonic TS3 has a score of 27 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTS3.

Built-in GPS
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS3 for Landscape Photography

Panasonic TS3 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Panasonic TS3 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of TS3 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Panasonic TS3 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Panasonic TS3

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Panasonic TS3 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Panasonic TS6

Compare

Panasonic TS5

Compare

Panasonic TS4

Compare

Panasonic TS30

Compare

Panasonic TS2

Compare

Olympus TG-3

Compare

Fujifilm X30

Compare

Canon G16

Compare

Panasonic TS3 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Panasonic TS3 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Panasonic TS3's price range.

Olympus E-M10 II

Compare

Panasonic G7

Compare

Fujifilm X-T100

Compare

Fujifilm X-T10

Compare

Olympus E-M10 MIII

Compare

Olympus E-P5

Compare

Olympus E-M10

Compare

Canon M6

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Panasonic TS3

Does the Panasonic TS3 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Panasonic TS3 have RAW support?
Does the Panasonic TS3 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Panasonic TS3 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Panasonic TS3?
What is the Sensor Size of Panasonic TS3?
is the Panasonic TS3 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Panasonic TS3 have Touch Screen?
Does the Panasonic TS3 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Panasonic TS3?

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Panasonic
Model	Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Also known as	Lumix DMC-FT3
Announced	2011-08-16
Body Type	Compact
Price	$379.99
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	28-128 mm (4.6×)
Max Aperture	F3.3-5.9
Macro Focus Range	5cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	TFT LCD
Screen Size	2.7″
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	60s
Max Shutter Speed	1/1300s
Continuous Shooting	4.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.60 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.33"
Sensor Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Sensor Area	27.72mm²
Sensor Resolution	12 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4000 x 3000
Max Native ISO	6,400
Min Native ISO	100
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
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	197g
Physical Dimensions	103 x 64 x 27mm
Battery Life	310 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes
Timelapse Recording
GPS	BuiltIn
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage Slots	1

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