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Introduction
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01.Product Tour
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02.Color
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03.Noise
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04.Resolution
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05.Video
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06.Sample Photos
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07.Playback
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08.Hardware
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09.Controls
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10.Design & Handling
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11.Kodak Z950 Comparison
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12.Nikon L100 Comparison
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13.Panasonic ZS3 Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Photo Gallery
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16.Comments
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Previous: Page 12
Nikon L100 ComparisonNext: Page 14
ConclusionPanasonic ZS3 Comparison
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is slightly more expensive than the Canon PowerShot SX120, but it also has a wider set of features and better performance. The ZS3 has a 12x zoom lens, while the SX120 has just 10x zoom to give. The ZS3 also captures video in high definition, and we found that the video it captured was significantly sharper than the Canon. But it was a pretty even race when it comes to the quality of the still images: both did an excellent job of producing sharp, bright images with good color. The Canon did have slightly less noise than the Panasonic, though, which could be important if you shoot a lot in low light situations.
The Panasonic is also the smaller camera by a considerable margin; it is just 1.29 inches thick, while the Canon is 1.79 inches. This means that the ZS3 fits quite happily into a jacket pocket, while the SX120 could ruin the line of a good suit. Neither camera is particularly compact, though; if you want something that will fit into a shirt pocket, you should be looking at cameras like the Sony T900. But if you don’t mind trading a bit of bulk for performance, the ZS3 would be our pick if you can afford the extra, although the SX120 is a very good camera for the price.
| Canon PowerShot SX120 IS vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
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| Canon PowerShot SX120 IS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | |
| Price | $229.99 | $399.95 |
| Colors | black | black, blue, silver, red |
| Dimensions | 110.6mm x 70.4mm x 44.7mm | 103.3mm x 59.6mm x 32.8mm |
| Optical Zoom | 10x | 12x |
| Sensor | 1/2.5"-type, CCD, 10.3 megapixels | 1/2.33"-type, CCD, 12.7 megapixels |
| Display | LCD, 3.0 in., 230000 pixels | LCD, 3.0 in., 460000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | none | none |
| Manual Controls | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, custom white balance | custom white balance, ISO control |
| Connectivity | USB, A/V | USB, A/V, miniHDMI |
| Battery | AA | removable lithium-ion, DMW-BCG10PP |
Shop for the Canon SX120 IS
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