Blog Capture Life's Moments in High Quality with Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 CameraBlog

In this blog, we will review the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 camera and explore its features. We will delve into its specifications, image and video quality, ease of use, design and portability. Moreover, we will provide an honest assessment of the camera's performance and give our verdict on whether it's worth purchasing. Blog

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 article cover photo

Key Features

Jan 26 2010

Announced

14 megapixels

Resolution

BrandPanasonic
Sensor Type1/2.3-inch
SensorCCD
Weight159g
MSRP$279USD

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Overview of the Lumix DMC-ZR3

Whether you're an aspiring photographer or simply someone who wants to capture life's moments in high quality, you need a good camera. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 camera is a popular choice for beginner and intermediate photographers due to its excellent performance, affordability and user-friendliness. In this blog, we aim to provide an in-depth review of this camera, and help you decide if it's worth investing in. So, let's dive into the world of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 and explore its fantastic features.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

Image quality: sharp, vibrant, clear
Optical zoom: 8x zoom provides excellent magnification
Video quality: Full HD 1080p, clear and smooth
Compact size: fits easily in pocket or bag
Image stabilization: reduces blur and shaky footage
Speed: fast autofocus and quick shooting

Cons

Battery life: may need to be recharged frequently
Low light performance: struggles in dimly-lit situations
No hot shoe: can't attach external flash or other accessories
Limited manual controls: may not satisfy advanced photographers
No viewfinder: must use LCD screen to compose shots
Plastic feel: doesn't feel as sturdy as some higher-end cameras

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3

Weather sealed
Dimensions98 x 55 x 26mm
Weight159g
Thickness26mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
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Max

Weather Sealing

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution230k dots
Body typeCompact

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 2.70" screen, with a display resolution of 230k dots. This makes the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the Lumix DMC-ZR3 camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 has a 14MP sized CCD sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 14 pixels. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 has a native ISO range of 80 - 6400 which can be boosted to null - null.

Key Features

Jan 26 2010

Announced

80 - 6400

ISO Range

Sensor1/2.3-inch
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution4320 x 3240 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the Lumix DMC-ZR3 is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: 1/2.3-inch

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Battery Life
Battery Model
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 uses the undefined model of undefined. This is rated for undefined shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/1300s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with 11 number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3?

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 features a CCD sensor

Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 weather sealed?

No the Lumix DMC-ZR3 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 announced?

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 was announced on Jan 26 2010

Does the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 have in-body image stabilization?

Yes the Lumix DMC-ZR3 does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3?

The Lumix DMC-ZR3 has a native ISO range of 80-6400, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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