Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 Review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 Review Image Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 Review Image
4.5
Review Date:
February 26, 2010
Author:
Mark Goldstein
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Buy a Lumix DMC-ZX1 12.1 Megapixel Compact Camera - Black (6.9 cm 2.7" LCD - 8x Optical Zoom - 4000 x 3000 Image - 1280 x 720 Video)

Lowest Price: N/A

Buy a Lumix DMC-ZR3 Point & Shoot Digital Camera - 14.1 Megapixel - 2.70" Active Matrix TFT Color LCD - Black (8x Optical Zoom - 4xMicrophone, Speaker)

Lowest Price: $198.87
  1. Introduction / Ease of Use
  2. Image Quality
  3. Sample Images
  4. Product Images
  5. Specifications
  1. Conclusion
  2. Main Rivals
  3. Review Roundup
  4. Videos
  5. Your Comments (21)
Conclusion »

Specifications

Optics
Camera Effective Pixels 14.1 Megapixels
Sensor Size / Total Pixels / Filter 1/2.33-type / 14.5 Total Megapixels / Primary Color Filter
Aperture F3.3 - 5.9/ 2-Step (F3.3 - 10 (W) / F5.9 - 18 (T))
Optical Zoom 8x
Focal Length f=4.5-36mm (25-200mm in 35mm equiv.)
Extra Optical Zoom (EZ) 11.3x (4:3 / 7M), 13.5x (4:3 / 5M), 16.9x (under 3M)
Intelligent Zoom 10x
Lens LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR / 9 elements in 7 groups / (4 Aspherical Lenses / 6 Aspherical surfaces)
Optical Image Stabilizer Power O.I.S. (Off / Auto / Mode1 / Mode2)
Digital Zoom 4x / ( Max. 32.0 x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom ) / (Max. 67.5x combined with Extra Optical Zoom)
Focusing Area Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity / Macro / Intelligent AUTO / Clipboard : Wide 3 cm - infinity / Tele 100cm - infinity
Focus Range Display Yes
AF Assist Lamp Yes
Focus Normal / Macro, Zoom Macro, Quick AF On/Off (On in Intelligent Auto), Continuous AF On/Off, AF Tracking
AF Metering Face / AF Tracking / 11pt / 1pt HS / 1pt / Spot
Shutter Speed Still: 8 - 1/2000 sec / Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec.
Shutter Interval approx. 1.0 sec

Recording
ISO Sensitivity Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / High Sensitivity (ISO 1600-6400)
Face Recognition Photo
Optical Image Stabilizer Photo & Movie
Intelligent ISO Control Photo
Face Detection Photo & Movie
Intelligent Scene Selector Photo (Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Sunset, Macro) & Movie (Portrait, Scenery, Low Light, Macro)
Intelligent Exposure Photo & Movie
AF Tracking Photo
Digital Red Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal) Photo
Intelligent Resolution Technology Photo & Movie
File Format Still Image: JPEG(DCF/Exif2.21) / Image with Audio: JPEG (DCF / Exif2.21) + QuickTime / Motion picture: AVCHD Lite / QuickTime Motion JPEG
AVCHD Lite REC NTSC / PAL (Depends on Region)
Mode Switch [Recording] / [Playback]
One-Touch Movie Button Yes
Mode Dial / Mode Button Intelligent Auto, Normal Picture, SCN, My SCN 1, My SCN 2, Clipboard
Still Image Scene Mode Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, / Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial photo, Pinhole, Film Grain, High Dynamic(Standard, Art, B&W), Photo Frame, Underwater
Movie Scene Mode Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Low Light, Food, Party, Candle Light, Sunset, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pinhole, Film Grain, nderwater, High Sensitivity, High Dynamic(Standard, Art, B&W) / (Activated by selecting Still Picture Scene Mode then pressing movie button. Still Picture Scene Modes without corresponding Movie Scene Mode is recorded in Normal Mode)
Continuous Shooting Mode Full-Resolution Image, 1.8 frames/sec Max. 5 images (Standard mode), Max 3 images (Fine Mode) / High-speed Burst Mode: approx. 6.0 frames/sec (image priority) / approx. 10 frames/sec (speed priority) / (recorded in 3M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)
Flash Burst Continuous Shooting Mode Max. 5 images (Standard mode)
Motion Picture Recording [4:3] VGA: 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps (Motion JPEG) / QVGA: 320 x 240 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG) / [16:9] WVGA: 848 x 480 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG) / [HD Movie] 1280x720 pixels, / NTSC Mode: NTSC model: 60p(CCD output is 30p) / PAL model: 50p(CCD output is 25p) / (AVCHD Lite, SH: 17Mbps / H:13Mbps / L:9Mbps ) / 30fps (Motion JPEG)
AVCHD Lite with picture quality set to [SH] (Continuous recordable time) Approx. 110 min
MOTION JPEG with picture quality set to [HD] (Continuous recordable time) Approx. 110 min
AVCHD Lite with picture quality set to [SH] (Actual recordable time) Approx. 55 min
MOTION JPEG with picture quality set to [HD] [[SH] (Actual recordable time) Approx. 55 min
Exposure Program AE
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV step, +/-2 EV
Backlight Compensation Yes (only in Intelligent AUTO mode)
Auto (AE) Bracketing +/- 1/3 EV ~1EV step, 3 frames
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple
Aspect Ratio 4:3 / 3:2 / 16:9
Still Picture Recording [4:3] 4320x3240(14M) / 3648x2736(10M) / 3072x2304(7M) / 2560x1920(5M) / 2048X1536(3M)　/ 640X480(0.3M) / [3:2] 4320x2880 (12.5M) / 3648x2432 (9M) / 3072x2048 (6M) / 2560x1712 (4.5M) / 2048x1360 (2.5M) / 640x424 (0.3M) / [16:9] 4320x2432 (10.5M) / 3648x2056 (7.5M) / 3072x1728 (5.5M) / 2560x1440 (3.5M) / 1920x1080 (2M) / 640x360 (0.2M)
Image Quality Fine / Standard
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set / (Selectable at Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Panorama Assist, Sports, Baby, Pet, High Sensitivity, Highspeed Burst, Pinhole, Photo Frame, High Dynamic）
Quick Menu Yes
Color Mode / Color Effect Standard, Vivid, Natural, Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm, Happy (only in iA Mode)
Still Image with Audio Recording 5 sec
Real-time histogram Yes
Composition Guide line Yes (2 pattern)
Auto Review 1sec, 2sec, Hold
Easy Zoom / Zoom Resume No / No
Optical Zoom in Motion Picture Yes
Macro Zoom Yes
Orientation Detector Yes
Scene Mode Help Screen Yes
Self Timer 2sec / 10sec
Focus Icon Select Yes (in Face Recognition only)

Playback
Playback Mode Normal Playback, Slideshow, Category Playback, Travel Playback, Mode Playback, Favorites Playback
Thumbnails / Zoomed Playback 12,30-thumbnails / Max 16x
Calendar Display / Dual-Image Playback Yes / No
Set Favorites / Rotate Image Yes / No
Playback Still Images with Audio Yes
Playback Motion Picture Yes ( AVC HD Lite / Motion JPEG)
Slideshow Mode All / Still Images Only / Motion Picture Only / Travel / Category / Favorites / BGM Effect (Natural / Slow / Swing / Urban / OFF)
Show Histogram Yes
Delete Image Single / Multi / All / All except Favorites
DPOF Print Setting / Set Protection Yes / Yes
Resize / Trim / Aspect Conv. / Leveling Yes / Yes / No / Yes
Copy / Title Edit / Text Stamp Yes / Yes / Yes
Cut Animation Yes
Video Divide Yes
PictBridge Support Single / Multi / All / Favorites / DPOF

Setup
OSD language Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Movie REC Guide Yes
Wind-Cut in Motion Picture Yes
Travel Date / World Time Yes / Yes

Metrics
Dimensions (W x H x D) 97.8 x 54.8 x 26.0 mm　 (3.85 x 2.15 x 1.02 in)
Weight Approx. 159g with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.35 lb) / Approx. 137g without Battery and SD Memory Card (0.30 lb)

Others
LCD Monitor Field of View : approx. 100% Wide Viewing Angle / AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode
Built-in-Flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off / 0.6 - 5.3m (Wide/ISO Auto), 1.0 - 2.9m (Tele/ISO Auto)
Recording Media Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Built-in-Memory Approx. 40MB
Microphone / Speaker Mono / Yes
Interface AV Output (NTSC/PAL, NTSC only for N. America), mini HDMI, USB2.0 High speed
Viera Link Yes
HDMI output Video: Auto / 1080i / 720p / 480p(576p for PAL) / Audio: Dolby® Digital Creator
Power ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack (3.6V, Minimum: 895mAh) (Included) / AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
Battery life (approx.) 330 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Included Software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition / QuickTime / Adobe Reader
Standard Accessories Battery Charger, Battery Pack, Battery Case, AV Cable, USB Cable, AC Cable, Hand Strap, CD-ROM

Further Specifications
NOTE • Motion pictures can be recorded continuously for up to 15 minutes in European PAL area.
Low Price: N/A
Low Price: $198.87
Next: Conclusion »
  1. Introduction / Ease of Use
  2. Image Quality
  3. Sample Images
  4. Product Images
  5. Specifications
  1. Conclusion
  2. Main Rivals
  3. Review Roundup
  4. Videos
  5. Your Comments (21)

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DIWAPhotographyBLOG is a member of the DIWA organisation. Our test results for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 have been submitted to DIWA for comparison with test results for different samples of the same camera model supplied by other DIWA member sites.
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  1. Introduction / Ease of Use
  2. Image Quality
  3. Sample Images
  4. Product Images
  5. Specifications
  1. Conclusion
  2. Main Rivals
  3. Review Roundup
  4. Videos
  5. Comments (21)
Low Price: N/A
Low Price: $198.87
Conclusion »