Panasonic Lumix
DMC-ZS3
 vs
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-H55

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-H70

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

62

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

59

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

We are not aware of any reasons to consider buying the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 over the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3.

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Zoom More zoom 12x vs 10x
Help
 More than 40% more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.3 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-ZS3's lens captures marginally more light (0.2 f-stops)
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 40% closer to the lens
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1600s
Help
 20% faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Advantages of the Sony DSC-H55
Size Smaller 103x58x29 mm vs 103x60x33 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The DSC-H55's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 200 g vs 229 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.3"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-H55
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
62 vs 59
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

PanasonicLumix DMC-ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H55
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
0
0
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
25 mm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
DMC-ZS3:60s
DSC-H55:30s
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-ZS3:229 g
DSC-H55:200 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
DMC-ZS3:1.3"
DSC-H55:1.1"
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Size Large Help
DMC-ZS3:103x60x33 mm
DSC-H55:103x58x29 mm
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
DMC-ZS3:2.3 fps
DSC-H55:1.8 fps
High-speed framerate No high speed movie support Help
Not supported
Zoom Poor zoom Help
DMC-ZS3:12x
DSC-H55:10x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$289 - $328
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$414 - $430
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$130 - $233
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$219 - $304
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Travel zoom

$305 - $379
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PowerShot SX220 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Compare the PowerShot SX220 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom

$195 - $328
GPS Has a GPS
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$170 - $271
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Better wide angle
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Travel zoom

$235 - $298
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Lighter
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS5 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$285 - $361
GPS Has a GPS
Weight Lighter
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS7 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3
Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS

Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS

Pro digicam

$294
Aperture Much wider aperture
Size Significantly smaller
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the PowerShot SD4000 IS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS3

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-H70

Sony Cybershot H70

Travel zoom

$170 - $201
Zoom Slightly more zoom
Size Slightly smaller
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Shutter lag Slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Cybershot H70 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Travel zoom
GPS Has a GPS
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Travel zoom

$127 - $245
Zoom More zoom
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability
Size Much larger
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the PowerShot SX130 IS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v

Travel zoom

$219 - $250
GPS Has a GPS
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Weight Slightly heavier
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230
Zoom Much more zoom
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-H55

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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