Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-WX9

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

71

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.4
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Size
Really small
Super compact 92x52x22 mm
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Thickness
Thin
0.9"
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

48

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Zoom More zoom 12x vs 5x
Help
Around 6x more zoom
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger 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 Much longer exposures 60s vs 2s
Help
30x 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-WX5

Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.4 vs f/3.3
Help
At its widest zoom, the DSC-WX5's lens captures slightly more light (0.9 f-stops)
Size Much smaller 92x52x22 mm vs 103x60x33 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Weight Much lighter 146 g vs 229 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Wide angle Better wide angle 24 mm vs 25 mm
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Much thinner 0.9" vs 1.3"
Help
More than 30% thinner
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The DSC-WX5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-WX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
48 vs 71
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a travel zoom with a compact.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 or the Sony DSC-WX5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
DMC-ZS3:25 mm
DSC-WX5:24 mm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50

Sony Cyber-shot WX50

Ultra compact

$178 - $198

Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Travel zoom

$361

GPS Has a built-in GPS
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319

Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Travel zoom

GPS Has a built-in GPS
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

Travel zoom

$149 - $200

Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$290 - $350

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Lower true resolution
Longest exposure Much shorter max exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom

$328

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom More zoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Travel zoom

$298

Size Slightly smaller
Weight Lighter
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$159 - $271

Zoom More zoom
Wide angle Better wide angle
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1

Travel zoom

Screen size Significantly smaller screen
True resolution Much lower true resolution

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX9

Sony Cybershot WX9

Compact

$278

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen size Larger screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX7

Sony Cybershot WX7

Compact

$241

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Thinner
Aperture Narrower aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$103 - $189

Supports 24p Supports 24p
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Aperture Narrower aperture
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Ultra compact

$285

Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Lower resolution movies
True resolution Much lower true resolution

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5

discussion

Showing 0 comments