Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 packs a lot of features into its small case: 1 0-megapixel resolution, a 12x zoom and high definition video capture. And we found that it has the performance to match this feature set, with sharp images and accurate color.

The camera itself is small enough to fit into a pocket, but it is a little chunky at 1.29 inches deep. It fits well into the hand, and the shutter and zoom controls fall tight under the index finger when it is held in one hand. The metal skin of the case is also a little slippery, meaning the camera could slip in sweaty hands. Fortunately, a wrist strap is also included so you won't loose it on a rollercoaster. The 3-inch LCD screen on the back of the case is clear and bright and big and sharp enough to effectively judge the quality and sharpness of images.

Performance (read in-depth performance coverage at Digitalcamerainfo.com)
Overall, we were very impressed with the performance of the ZS3 in our tests, where it scored highly in most tests. We did find a few areas of concern, though; images shot at the higher ISO settings were rather noisy, and the images taken at the longer zoom settings were slightly soft, especially at the edges of the frame. But we found that it did an excellent job of capturing colors accurately and without overly saturating them.

We were also impressed with the performance of the image stabilization features of the ZS3, which did an excellent job of correcting for both the low and high shake that we apply in our tests. We also found that the video that the ZS3 captured was extremely good, with plenty of detail and good color. The video is captured at 720p resolution and can be saved in either MJPEG or AVCHD Lite format. The latter is a new format, but it can be imported into most video editing programs that support the AVCHD format, including iMovie.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at Digitalcamerainfo.com)
The ZS3 performs well when compared with other similar cameras; we found the image quality to be superior to cameras such as the Canon SX120 and the Kodak Z950. It also captured much superior video, with much more detail. However, it is also more expensive than these cameras, both of which cost about $225. The ZS3 costs about $300. Although the 12X zoom lens of the ZS3 is long enough to get close to the action, it is not as long as ultrazoom cameras such as the Sony HX1. But the ZS3 is significantly smaller than these cameras, and is thus far easier to carry.

For a more in-depth review, visit the Lumix DMC-ZS3 review at our partner Digitalcamerainfo.com

For a more in-depth review, visit the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 Review at our partner DigitalCameraInfo.com