Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD
- 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)
Product Description
The ZS3 records HD motion images at a smooth 60 frames per second with 1280×720-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.The ZS3 is equipped with an HDMI output terminal for direct transmission of digital picture and sound signals. Just connect the camera to an HDTV using a single HDMI mini cable (purchased … More >>
The reason is that you want a cam that emits raw format for computer processing. Thats a BIG deal, and you can move your images to the next level with HDR processing, which works with raw. HDR is easy to do (photomatix) and your images will be WAY more interesting if you use this. HDR = high dynamic range, allows your pics to mimic the response of the human eye.
So my advice is, don’t get locked into a technology without a future (jpeg). Either find a point cam that emits raw, or just wait for the manufacturers to offer one.
If you don’t take your pictures seriously, then buy it.
Rating: 1 / 5
A large reason I decided to buy the ZS3 over some other manufacturers was the waterproof diving case.
BOHICA
The linked case, MCTZ5, does NOT work with the ZS3 (I’m now eating amazon’s return fee).
And now I’m trying to find something to fill the need.
Partly my fault. I didn’t read the VERY fine print.
Definitely Amazon’s fault, the ZS3 has at least 2 different product designations.
“people who bought this, also bought:”
I suspect amazon had quite a few pissed of customers for this item
Rating: 1 / 5
THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING the PANASONIC DMC-ZS3!!!
It CAN take FANTASTIC photos (and video), BUT…
(1) YOU *MUST* USE at least “CLASS 6″ or higher media to get a good quality photo at 10 MP. I did not realize that when I bought it, except that I noticed at the store that photos looked FAR BETTER at 5 MP than 10 MP! It is even better to opt for the “Class 10″ media. I bought one Panasonic 16 GB “Class 10″ media when I bought the camera. I WISH I had bought more and used THEM instead of the 8 GB, “Class 4″ or “Class 6″ that I had brought with me from home. If you’re going to spend the money for the camera, use the BEST media you can get!
(2) YOU CANNOT GET EXTRA OEM *PROPRIETARY* BATTERIES, CHARGER or POWER SUPPLY!!!
I have been reading that the “over-the-counter” batteries will not work with the ZS3 due to a “Firm Ware” upgrade, so, since I spent what I did for the ZS3, I wanted to get OEM Panasonic batteries, charger and power supply. I had also heard that the “over-the-counter” batteries would overheat and cause problems.
Unfortunately, because of ONLY having ONE battery (DMW-BCG10PP), and having to carry the OEM charger (DE-A65B) around with me every time I want to take photos, I lost my OEM charger and have not been able to charge the ONLY battery supplied for several weeks.
After an EXHAUSTIVE, but unsuccessful search since then, and because I could not find another OEM charger (DE-A65B) ANYWHERE locally or online, last night, I ordered an OEM PROPRIETARY power supply (DMW-AC5PP) that was SUPPOSED to fit the ZS3, and got it overnighted. It DID NOT fit!!! It wasn’t even close!!!
The fitting on the power supply I received looks like what you would plug into a portable hard drive (sort of a small trapazoid shape). The receptacle on the camera is about 50% larger and more rectangular with slight extensions on the bottom at the left and right edges. There is NO comparison in size or shape.
The ZS3’s instructions say/show that DMW-AC5PP is the correct part number, and the DMW-AC5PP power supply itself says/shows that it is a DMW-AC5PP (as do its instructions), but the BOX says/shows it is a DMW-AC5 (i.e. without the PP) and it DOES NOT FIT!!!
I WANT to order a couple of extra batteries and OEM charger, but I am VERY leery now. Even Panasonic said THEY don’t even have extra batteries or another charger, and that it would take 3+ weeks for THEM to get any. Interestingly, they told me I needed to order a DMW-BCG10 (i.e. without the PP at the end), but suggested I order it from a local dealer. They don’t have either the DMW-BCG10PP or the DMW-BCG10, and after my experience, I don’t TRUST what Panasonic says is the correct size!
My daughter’s 10 year old birthday party is THIS coming Sunday (four days from now) and I CAN’T GET ANY MORE BATTERIES and I CAN’T GET ANYTHING to charge the ONLY battery I have!!!
I had bought the ZS3 on the first day of our vacation in Vancouver on 05/30/2009, because I had accidentally left my camera in my car at the airport in the US.
I tried buying a couple of extra batteries and another charger when I bought the ZS3, but Panasonic had not even made them available at all yet!
Since they ONLY supply ONE battery, and you can’t even BUY spares, and I was going on an Alaskan cruise (and wanting to take LOTS of photos), I had to keep charging my ONLY battery every time I stopped to eat, then make sure I remembered to retrieve it before leaving the restaurant. Thankfully, it only happened twice, and there were only so many places I would have had to go to to retrace my steps to find it.
Unfortunately, I have now lost the charger and have no idea where. It wouldn’t be so bad if you could just easily BUY another one—that FITS!
And, of course, I would NOT have lost it at all had I been ABLE to buy extra PANASONIC OEM *PROPRIETARY* batteries and charger (and/or power supply) when I bought the ZS3, so I could leave the charger AT HOME.
Rating: 1 / 5
Let me start off by saying the camera itself is quite good. HOWEVER, I was absolutely appalled when (after I bought it) I learned that Panasonic decided to include a restriction in their latest firmware version (1.2) that only allows the camera to operate with one of their $50 batteries. Of course I didn’t know this when I bought the camera and I also purchased a generic spare WHICH DOESN’T WORK. So now I’m out $30 on a useless battery and will need to spend another $50 if I want to have a spare (which you need to have). If I had know about this, I would have purchased the Cannon 970is for the same price (and yes, they allow you to use generic batteries).
Rating: 1 / 5
In my journey to find a good P&S camera that also includes HD Quality video I have made two purchases. The first purchase was the Canon 960is. Please go check out my review on that camera if you are inclined.
NOTE: This review will evolve over time as I use the camera.
Before I get to any of the details I must inform any potential buyer of a problem that is absolutely infuriating and insulting. That being the fact that the ZS3’s firmware version of 1.2 forces you to utilize the OEM battery. Why is this so infuriating you might ask? Well because you can’t purchase this battery anywhere. I have gone to all of the vendor’s listed on the Panasonic website and they are all out of stock with no estimate of when stock will return.
Not letting this stop me I decided to call Panasonic, even though they indicate that you can not purchase the battery directly. Surprisingly this is a lie. The customer service representative has a battery for the camera, at a low low cost of $44.XX with a minimum $8.XX shipping charge. So at ~16% of the cost of the entire camera new, I can purchase 1 more battery for the camera. So be prepared to take your $300 purchase and jack it up to $400+ just so you can take the camera with you on a trip with sufficient backup batteries.
Needless to say, Panasonic is starting on the wrong foot by imposing a firmware change that makes no sense at all.
STRIKE 1.
On to my initial impressions after 5 days of use.
The camera itself has sturdy construction that I can’t really find any problems with. The weakest point would seem to be the battery/memory card cover. It has a locking device that I do worry about long term. One thing I find really nice is the placement of the flash in the middle of the unit itself rather than the the outside edge like my previous cameras. I found myself covering the flash on my other cameras all the time.
The screen quality is very nice; however, I do find that the display when you have the camera on lags badly during realtime display. This is not the case while playback of video however.
Pictures so far have been clear and I have not spent much time conducting tests in varied conditions. The dedicated video button is nice and I am off an running taking pictures and movies without much setup at all. Thus far, it’s all very easy to understand.
more to come later….
Rating: 3 / 5