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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black) | 
| Brand: Panasonic
Category: Photography
List Price: $349.95
Buy New: $270.77
as of 11/22/2009 03:26 MST details
You Save: $79.18 (23%)
New (27) Used (1) from $248.99
Seller: OneCall
Rating:  236 reviews
Sales Rank: 46
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Monitor Size: 300
Includes Software: Yes
Optical Zoom: 12
Digital Zoom: 4
Connectivity: AV
Display Size: 3
Maximum Focal Length: 49.2
Minimum Focal Length: 4.1
Maximum Resolution: 10100000
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 2.4 x 1.3 x 4.1
MPN: DMC-ZS3-K
Model: ZS3 Black
UPC: 037988988372
EAN: 0037988989010
ASIN: B001QFZMCO
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 10.1-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-size prints | | • | 12x MEGA optical image-stablilized zoom; 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens | | • | Capture HD video in "AVCHD Lite" format | | • | Intelligent Auto (iA) mode; Face Recognition feature | | • | Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The ZS3 records HD motion images at a smooth 60 frames per second with 1280 x 720-pixel resolution. It uses the AVCHD (MPEG-4/H.264) format, via AVCHD lite, which stores less data than other formats and thus lets you shoot more minutes of HD motion images before running out of memory.Just set the camera to iA mode, aim and shoot. The camera does all the rest. It automatically determines the most suitable scene mode and helps correct blurring, focus, and brightness problems. With iA mode, it's easy to get beautiful, clear results. In the ZS3, iA mode cannot be used when shooting motion images.The ZS3 packs a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 12x optical zoom into a compact body. This versatile photographic tool lets you shoot everything from sweeping vistas at the 25mm wide-angle setting to dynamic 300mm telephoto shots. And the lens system's exquisite rendering ability lets you capture even the subtle nuances of the sights and scenes in your travels.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 236
 Best Bang for your Buck November 21, 2009
A1engineer
Best zoom in a small package! Love the HD video and stereo sound. Like the big screen. Is shows you mode selection on the screen in case it's at night and you can't see the dial on top.
ZS3 November 21, 2009
D. Rothgeb
I have numerous film and digital cameras, plus camcorders, waterproof housings and lenses out the wazoo. But since I got the ZS3 about 6 months ago, it's known as "the camera" around my house. I bought it for the wide angle lense and the large screen, but have fallen in love with it for so many more reasons. I absolutely love how you can go from stills to video with the touch of just on button. The photos and video aren't the highest quality,(give it an 8.5 or so for both), but considering the ease of use and small package it's great.
I dive, and on some drive trips I may haul 20-30 lbs of equipment. Last trip, it was more like 5 lbs. Best thing is that I don't have to decide on video or stills for a particular dive, this camera does both with ease. Underwater is where the wide angle lens really shins.
Now after raving about, it does have have a few issues. The mode dial is pretty flimsy and it's too easy to chage settings accidentially while shooting. There really should be a lock for AI mode (my wife has problems with this). If you want much manual control, this camera not for you. I print up 11"x17" and the quality is not great there. The lens is good, but the compression is not so great. And the 720p video is good, but doesn't compare to my 1080p camcorder. But all in all, I give it a 9.5.
You'd be hard pressed to find a wide angle camera with this zoom range for this price that does so many things so well.
 Beautiful Camera, but about the battery... November 20, 2009
TomK1 (Brookeville, MD)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My wife had purchased a Panasonic point-and-shoot in the past, and frankly, the image quality was fantastic.
Now, truth be told, I have too many digital cameras; I have some very nice DSLR's and some standard Canon point and shoot, and a tiny little Casio that is so portable.
But what I was looking for was a point and shoot with an extreme telephoto to wide angle, reasonable size and HD movie capability. I was traveling to a race, and I wanted to take all the kinds of shots my DSLR would take, but without the bulk.
And this camera does all of that. Whatever processing Panasonic applies to the pictures, things really "pop" on the screen. It's almost hard to take a bad picture. It's beautifully made, and you can set up modes that can be customized to what you need. It's well thought out enough that you can actually get "deep" into the camera without a manual.
Is it perfect? Oh no.
First of all there are two major flaws that detracts from the camera significantly: first the battery life is poor. You get about 100 photo taken and you can see you're running out of juice. I've tried all kinds of tricks, reducing the view-screen time to minimal, have it shut off very aggressively; there's simply no way to have the battery last the entire day. Normally, you'd just buy another battery, but this actually has some sort of "chip" in the battery which will not accept anything other than Panasonic batteries. And what's worse, original batteries are hard to find and expensive when you do.
The other flaw is that shutter lag is long for a camera in 2009. This will affect action shots (like races).
You should also realize that unlike other high end cameras, the Panasonic does not let you set either shutter speed or aperture; instead you choose from many modes and adjust specific parameters. I don't think this is "worse" for just snapshots, but it's a mind-set change.
The good outweighs the bad however. Unlike the Canon line, this actually has a very usable 720p video mode, and it has stereo microphones. The pictures are fantastic when you stay within the parameters the camera was designed for, and physically, the camera is rugged and solid feeling.
It's good at what it does, but the battery issue (both life and availability) should be considered in your choice.
A camcorder that takes pictures, by chance November 19, 2009
Paulo Matsui (S.Paulo, Brazil)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was looking for a new camcorder. While searching and comparing Kodak Zi8 and Mino Flip HD, I came through a review which suggested this ZS3 instead. So, when you compare specs with these 3 models, the ZS3 comes out a winner. For about $60 more (than you would spend on a Kodak or Flip) you get a Full HD camcorder, a *fantastic* point and shoot and REAL lenses - which, by the way, has a 12x OPTICAL zoom.
My only 2 complaints would be (A:) the lack of a power cable to charge its battery directly, and (B:) the battery life - way too short compared to my old and reliable Sony P200. A firmware upgrade Panasonic done on this camera rendered useless ALL the compatible (grey market) batteries out there. So you can only turn to Panasonic's original (and quite expensive) battery. Such a shame.
The pros, on the other hand, outweights by a large amount these 2 negative points. Please, read on.
Its autofocus is simply magic.
I got a small kid, which stands still for about 1/2 second. Anyone with small kids knows what I'm talking about. This ZS3 uses that split second to get a hold on the subject and follows around the fugitive kid - correcting the focus! So you can press the shutter button whenever you want: most pictures will come out just crystaline.
And it also got face recognition.
Not quite smart- sometimes it's not able to recognize a already registered face - but impressive when it gets right.
You can register 5 faces on the ZS3.
About the camcorder use.
The files generated when filming with the ZS3 is something alien (in a very complex file-folder structure) which I can only access (read and write in a different format) with iMovie '09. VLC also can read and play them, but since VLC cannot export and save, it's no good. Final Cut Pro doesn't seem to recognize the connected ZS3. I read somewhere FCP is supposed to recognize and import these video files in Log and Capture dialog window, but I wasn't able to do so.
Since these videos *are* in AVCHD native format (and very compressed), passing them through Apple Compressor gives you a small file with pretty heavy artifacts. Even choosing H.264 codec. That is: the video becomes dirty and useless.
The bottomline: good camera, fair pricing (not cheap), that I can recommend for anyone interested in a good portable Full HD camcorder that - eventually - is a superb point-and-shoot photographic camera.
Excellent point and shoot camera November 19, 2009
Justin (Washington, DC)
I used this camera on a 3 week honeymoon to South Africa and it performed very well on safari, hiking, sightseeing, etc.
Pros:
- Wide angle lens is a must for scenery shots, and makes it easier to take photos of yourself if you're a traveling couple
- 12x optical zoom is amazing in such a small package. Good image stabilization means it's actually usable, too!
- Very good battery life and a great compact charger design
- HD video (720p) with stereo sound! Many of the comparable Canons don't offer that yet.
- Zoom works during video recording. Again, many competitors lock the zoom during recording
- It's an attractive piece of equipment and fit in a big pants pocket
- Accepts my 32gb SD card (SDHC class 6). That's a ridiculous 5.5 hours of HD video or 5000 10mp photos!
Cons:
- Autofocus is a little tricky--but I probably just need to read the manual more thoroughly :)
- Still not very good in low light
- The zoom in/out mechanism is a little loud. I can sometimes hear it in a totally silent video
- The included wrist strap doesn't have a movable cinch, so you can't make it tight around your wrist
Showing reviews 1-5 of 236
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