REVIEW: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 

Just want to add a comment about the microphone location of the camera. As both a sound engineer and a music professional, its been considered wiser for a general use responsibility to have microphones on top with an omnidirectional pickup over unidirectional focal pickup because of tolerance for wind. Having a mic up top eliminates the problem of shooting "into the wind." It is better for general use ergonomics.

Hey they quality of the video and audio is really good, what type of camera are you using? Thanks!

excellent review mate :-) I'm going to buy this here in the UK to take to a music festival next week, i think it should prove versatile enough for what i need

I just ordered mines today. i can't wait for it to arrive!!!

Thanks SO much.. so I have XP... and Windows movie maker... How do you put it into MJPEG mode... SO to be so Dependant on your knowledge.. this is foreign to me.. Thanks Jason much appreciated!

VERY helpful review. One question: Is it possible to edit the videos using Windows Movie Maker or must the file be converted?

Very nice camera I collect old points you cameras Panasonic is one of my favorite thank you for sharing this video

i JUST BOUGHT THIS AND AM SAD :(( HOW CAN I EDIT AND UPLOAD.. I AM AN CAMERA AMATEUR... BUT? WHAT DO I DO ANY HELP ANYONE? ALL I HAVE IS WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER....

I haven't tried this, so I'm relating secondhand information, but my understanding is that the stock camera will take a non-manufacturer battery, but if you do a firmware update, the camera will then only work with a Panasonic battery (because the firmware update was specifically written to do that).

Thanks for the in depth review! I've been back and forth between this camera and the Sony Cybershot DSC-H20. I ride horses and get videos taken of me when I'm far off in the distance, hence the large zoom. However, I'm also into photography. When you talked about the focus not going to the side of the screen, now I'm back at the Sony. Do you have one you'd recommend? Thanks!

EXCELLENT review Jason! I'm in the market for this or similar camera, and you have swayed me even closer to buying it. Thanks.

Note that DMC-ZS3 is what it's known as in the US, but shops in Europe sell it as DMC-TZ7.

Jason, I am hoping you can answer this. How many minutes of recording time can an 8GB SDHC memory card hold ? Thank you for reading. Loved your postings. -Maria

I had the flash on as well. I'm not sure what the deal was - I have a VERY steady hand too. I ended up returning the L110 and getting a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3; I couldn't be happier with it. GREAT camera...and a little cheaper to boot! Thanks for replying, Jason ;-)

@ThoughtsMedia Is it 1 hour for MJPEG or AVCHD format? Very nice review btw, thanks a lot! Rated this 5 stars.

@ThoughtsMedia the ZS7 (2 generations newer) is under $310 at a few online stores if you look around.

Thanks for answering so quickly. I kind of think the same as you about the black camera. It's hard, not cheap, but I don't think it's metal...the silver one I have feels like metal to me, but yours might be, too, just maybe the paint made it feel different or something. Your cam just looks so shiny, it's hard to tell. I would check it out in person if a store around here carried this awesome camera. I'd have to order it or exchange mine and take a chance. Thanks for the suggestion!

Looks like my question was already answered ;-) Thanks again for the review - going to pick one up tomorrow. I bought a Nikon L110 last week - takes GREAT outdoor shots, but it seems like 90% of my indoor shots are completely blurred...

This camera is AWESOME if you like to record LIVE CONCERTS!!!! The audio stays nice and clear & is in stereo sound!! Camera is cheap to buy now since it's a few years older..I just bought another one since it was so cheap on eBay!!!Takes good pictures also!!

Love your review! I've been looking at the latest version of this, zs7. Of course it's a lot more expensive. Have you had a chance to compare the two? I value your opinion and hope to hear from you soon! Thanks! I didn't think that added MP would make much of a difference.

Ordered the camera online today!

Jason, what camcorder do you use for your reviews?

Cool I have the black version. It is damn good. I went with it because of the 12X zoom in a small package and the 720P video recording.

lol... thanks.. I have been... I see the Mjpeg mode I believe.. I guess thats motion jpeg I dont have live or windows 7.. i have xp.. dont think theres much I can do.. thanks for your help.. i will keep reading and looking around... have also dwnld a converter no luck :( Thanks again! :))

good camera, and good reviews on it, but i here a major disadvantage is that it will only accept panasonic batteries( which are very expensive) panasonic somehow made it where it will only accept their own batteries ... maybe u can confirm this or not? what the difference between this camera and the DMC-ZS3K. great video by the way 5 stars

it is a very good camera. really recommend it.

hi, great video, but could you please explain to me what th clip mode on this camera is, I own one of this camera and don´t quite get what does "CLIP" option, the one that is above SCN mean?

Hi I liked your video, can you suggest other software to download recording from the DMC-ZX3 and edit? rgds Kevin, Ireland

nevermind i take that back. i guess it applies for the tz7 too. some videos have noise and some don't.

I have a question about the red camera....does the body look like colored metal or like a tough painted hard plastic? I have the silver and it feels and looks more metal, but my dad got the black and his looks less like hard plastic and has a different feel, but I know it's supposed to be the same....how does the red camera feel? I am thinking about exchanging mine for a red one because it's just such a nice color....but I don't want it to feel cheap or plastic-like. Any input would be helpful.

Oh, and also, the lens always goes in and out when the power is turned on and off or I switch from shooting to playback mode. That wastes the battery, sort of.

make sure is is ID-Secured. Otherwise it won't work with new purchases with updated firmware.

i've been suggested this camera under a $250 budget from about 3 out of 6 people. i was also maybe considering an inexpensive SLR camera. do you think that I should just go with this camera and later invest in a better SLR? do you have suggestions on any other better digital camera?

@ThoughtsMedia I finally got my camera, I got the Olympus SZ-20 (Black). I am so far very happy with it.. its good camera =)

One thing I don't like about the zoom on my Lumix (I don't know what version it is because I don't want to get it...) anyways, it goes directly from W to T on that zoom-scale thingy, and you can't adjust it to somewhere in between. (Or at least I don't think.) Also, in dark rooms, the videos have a lot of specks/noise, and it's hard to find decent lighting.

@ThoughtsMedia just wondering, i bought a refurbished ZS3 and its making the same noise as yours when it zooms... i watched peoples video with the TZ7 and it seems like theirs didn't have a zoom noise like the ZS3. that's what i notice.

@ThoughtsMedia thanks for the help! i got great concert shots! i have another question, i meant to record the video in motion JPEG but recorded it in AVCHD instead now when i try to load it i get 20 small files instead of bigger files of the video, what do i do to watch them? is there a way to combine all the small video files?

Wow you are like a Camera guru, thanks for the review =) I wonder if this camera can take pictures quickly, i mean while walking just snap and it becomes alright not blurry? I dont know what that feature is called but that alot is very important for me ^^ Again, thanks Jason!

@Dr4gondice This camera is a "point and shoot" camera. It is geared specifically for the person who wants to take a digital picture by turning it on, and pressing a single button, and MAYBE zooming in or out. The camera is amazing for its price range, and ease of use. This is a great buy for anyone who is not a professional, who is not using a camera for professional zoom and manual focus. It is amazing - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING - for what you get for the price.

The best review iv'e seen, im going to buy this camera now :)

what is the best setting to take good pictures at a concert

Not compatible with Mac pc , I couldnt see my videos,, it has to be seen in a different format which is not easy to find!

does the quality change of the video if you use the motion jpeg instead of the avchd or does it stay the same quality?

No but it did say that in your side bar yesterday

@ThoughtsMedia Hi, i bought a scandisk sdhc 8gb class 6 for recording videos with this camera and i had a lot of problems because of recording speed. I saw that u use a 16gb class 6. Do u have any problem with avchd recording? Sorry of my english

How is the video quality on this? Am looking for a good camera under 150 to take in airports and on flights...I have a DSLR for bigger stuff normally but I want something relatively small and discreet to use.

Thanks for the advice!

In burst mode, how many consecutive shots will zs3 take before stopping? For sports shots. How fast can the camera take one picture after another when pushing the shutter manually? does it reset quickly?

@ThoughtsMedia yes, it is, i use to record my concerts and it sounds good, look some of my videos

Hi its 2022

did you bought yours for NEW or USED? and was it a ZS3 or a TZ7?

thanks,can this camera work for light graffiti or should i wait for the zs5.(do you think the samsung hz30w is better than zs5) sorry ,that's a lot of question,but i really need a good camera for light graffiti ,thanks :D

nice camera and it looks like the price has become quite reasonable. especially like seeing the METAL tripod mount instead of plastic (like my piece of junk Canon has)

i need a battery where can i get one?

hows the video on this thing, can you record longer than 20 minutes on a 64 GB card?

I'm thinking about getting one of these cause I only want to spend about 150. do you think it still mesures up?

Its not as noisy as you think..I can't hardly hear it when recording...

why is that when I record under the motion jpeg mode I'm only allowed to shoot 10 minutes with a 8gb sd card? I can shoot a lilttle over an hour with the avchd lite mode, but my pc doesn't read it...is there a program for this? thanks

Is this camera made in japan or china? I am planning to either get this one or the similar one from canon.

hey thoughtsmedia, can you help me. i uploaded several videos from my ZS3 to youtube, and it looks like my video width and height dimensions arent correct because its surrounded by black filling gaps on youtube. can you tell me the correct width and height video i'm suppose to use for video editing? i have Adobe Premiere thanks!

Yes, he should review only what you want him to review...

I can not see the video hd on my computer(sony vaio z540). which software should i use?

Wow, i hope Panasonic paid you for this :) Awesome review.

which is better for this camera 1080i or 720p ? and i made a video with 1080i its perfect on camera but when i saw on pc its a little bit bad quality y ? replay plz!

i read many reviews 4 this camera, and since the price came down to $ 230 today i was going to buy it based on the reviews, but i have come across some big negatives for this camera... i;m use to taking a picture, then taking my sd card, and it loads in windows media player automatically and i can do what i what with my photos.... no so with this camera ,since windows does not recognize t avhd also not so good in low light- but that to me is not a big deal 5 stars from me

does the VLC downgrade the hd quality?

' why NO red lumix in canada,,, what is canada problem policy

Does the video save as mp4? Thank you

i have red and im in canada :P got it off amazon haha

16:9 only 2MP kinda sucks really bad. Most PC monitors are 16:9 now.

Is it this camera made in Japan ?

Very helpful review...the best (and most professional) review here. It helped me decide to buy it. Good luck.

@ThoughtsMedia that video you saw is actually the original avchd lite file. In Adobe Premiere Elements, i made a video with the save as setting 720p 30. and its not coming out right. i also tried the 1080p as well. turns out the same. any idea? check this out, my edit video. watch?v=CMK00CSF4fM

great - it help me to edit the movie - but it does not play it with media player

why i don't get the sound with VLC?

Can u adjust shutter speed?

This is probably the WORST camera I've ever used, and I've used maybe a couple dozen. Outdoor shots with bright light are relatively good, but anything indoors/lower light you're looking at pictures with an excessive and unacceptable amount of noise/grain. Attempted every setting to no available to eliminate the horrid noise/grain. A camera from 2000 can take better photos!

ThoughtsMedia, ' hi there,,, thank,,, i will check it out later

this is a underwater camera???

Sorry but it only does 30FPS 720p

@Hieisshadowprincess yess because it can record in HD :D

thanks :). Am definitely buying this camera. Canon is made in China :(

I have the panasonic lumix model dmc-fs42 10 megapixel in silver i was wondering if any of you clever people can please tell me how i record on this damn camera cause i dont know!

rated: 5 mine comes this week.

' is this camera have a SILVER body

whadda know. i only use adobe premier elements 7.

I need this video instruction in Spanish

Yeah, but I was not sure. :P Im not that into cameras.

I got red in canada in 2009, :P

LOL 12 "X"? Its 12 times, amirite? Good videos though!

ThoughtsMedia, ' okay thank explain,,, in canada still have many red things,,, red vehicles, red traffic lights and red stop signs, red clothes, red maple leaf and two red lines on the canada flag, redbull energy drinking, any red in canada,,, but why no red camera,,, canada is a conflict law

Japan.

No? He should be able to do whatever he want. Just kidding. ;-)