Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 first look

Like its predecessor, the Lumix DMC-TZ5, Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 offers an interesting combination of features, including a 12x zoom lens and 720p AVCHD video capture, in an attractive, compact body. And with better photo quality, slightly faster performance, and a wider angle lens, the ZS3 does improve upon the older model. It also holds pretty well compared with competitors like the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS.

Available in blue, silver, black, and red, the ZS3 (aka the TZ7 elsewhere) has a similar little brother, the ZS1, which differs in some obvious and not-so-obvious ways for their approximately $100 price differential. Though they both shoot 10-megapixel photos, the ZS3 actually uses a 12-megapixel sensor in order to maintain the same angle of view 16:9 and 4:3 aspect modes. The ZS3 also offers a 720p HD movie mode with stereo and a mini HDMI output versus the ZS1's monaural VGA, and has a larger 3-inch LCD.

At 7.7 ounces with dimensions of 2.4 inches by 4.1 inches by 1.3 inches, the ZS3 counts as compact, and fits quite comfortably in a jacket pocket. For the most part, it uses the same design as the TZ5--both attractive and functional--and it's smaller and lighter. Panasonic swapped the traditional locations of the shutter and the mode dial, placing the former to the left of the latter. After a while, it starts to feel more natural, however. A dial lets you switch among camera and movie modes, as well as two slots for program exposure (scene) modes--these have the same choices, but allow the camera to remember two of your last selections--Intelligent Auto and an odd Clipboard mode that captures low-resolution photos to internal memory for fast display. Panasonic fixed the placement of the microphone; though there's still a warning in the manual to watch you don't put your fingers over it, it's farther in toward the center and didn't pose any problems.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Panasonic
• Lumix
• DMC-ZS3
• first
• look

[Timothy17Fan]

I never have liked CNET reviews. They are always acting like every product they review, has flaws. Every review by them, they rate the products as average. And usually user reviews are much better than the reviews by Cnet.

[Technetgate]

So i put there videos here to let the people make reviews about the devices by themselves.

[kansas66204]

cnet really needs to take some advice on doing professional reviews, it really shows the people who are doing the reviews no nothing about the product. try looking at the reviews of cameralabs and take lots of notes... FAIL

[cipcitoni]

i wish you chose to show the angle setting that you mentioned..

[vwlover94]

Looks like a soccer mom wasnt satisfied with a camera that i own, and that she says iso is the only thing thats manual, bunch of bull it has color setting shutter setting in starry sky mode, and alot of scene setting as well as AF and flash setting and expousure incriments, this soccer mom took a quick picture of her kid and wasnt satisfied that he came out uggly in the picture, so thats why she sound unsatisfied in the review

[MOFUZION]

simpley the best point and shoot camera. ..*****

[stokedGSXR]

I agree with the previous posters, one of the worst reviews ever. And there are lots of manual controls on this camera, more than most in a point and shoot situation.

Big fail on this review. 5 thumbs down!

[b1naryd1g1t5]

This would have been the best compact zoom on the market if Panasonic would have put some manual controls on it. Very stupid move because everything else about the camera is top notch (especially the video).

[johnblack627]

This is "first look." They're just showing their first impressions.

[thanatosanima]

Cnet reviews (buzz report) sucks. cameralabs reviews are hundred time better. He goes through all the stuff in depth and has samples.

[hahahyena]

What a lame review CNET

Honestly the stuff you showed is already shown on the website.

That is the most generic review.

USELESS AS ALWAYS