The new slim and stylish Panasonic Lumix ZR3 is perfect for capturing those spur-of-the-moment video opportunities in high-quality. The Panasonic ZR3 compact, slim and stylish and perfect choice for everybody!

Our Rating (4/5)

Good: Simple to use; nice design; very good features.

Bad: AVCHD Lite video and 14-megapixel resolution seem unnecessary; no controls for aperture or shutter speed.

Panasonic announces the Lumix  ZR3, a new fully featured digital camera complete with AVCHD Lite High Defintion (HD) video recording capabilities, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica lens and a powerful 8x optical zoom – giving consumers a wide-range of shooting options, yet in a slim body that is small enough to fit in a pocket or small purse. New to the ZR-Series this year, Panasonic also introduces Intelligent Zoom, which extends the Lumix ZR3 camera’s zoom to an impressive 10x. The Panasonic DMC-ZR3’s incredible 8x optical zoom is not found on many conventional point-and-shoot cameras, especially ones that are approximately 1-inch thick. With a powerful zoom, users will be thrilled with the close-up shots they are able to take.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 features a intelligent zoom function

And for an added boost, zoom power can be increased to 10x with Panasonic’s new Intelligent Zoom function, which takes advantage of the newly-added Intelligent Resolution technology. Intelligent Resolution, a component of Intelligent Auto mode, helps to maintain optimal picture quality by capturing higher quality signal processing and through the detection of three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation – examining them pixel by pixel to enhance any degradation created during the digital zoom process or in high-sensitivity shooting. As a result of Intelligent Resolution, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and video recording.

AVCHD Lite HD
The camera takes video recording to the next level with its AVCHD Lite HD video format. Featuring double the recording time in HD quality compared to the conventional Motion JPEG format, and offering Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high-quality audio, the Panasonic DMC-ZR3 is perfect for capturing those spur-of-the-moment video opportunities in high-quality. With the newly-added Video Divide function, users can cut their video into two sections on the spot – within the menus of the camera – to shorten or delete the unwanted half. Continuing with the trademark iA mode, Panasonic has incorporated this intuitive and innovative feature into the ZR3. Working to enhance the potential of all photos and videos, iA mode automatically selects the best Scene mode, and also helps to correct handshake and any focus or brightness issues.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 equipped with a 2.7″ LCD monitor
The camera features a super-fast AF (Auto Focus) speed of 0.26 second (wide-end) / 0.31 second (tele-end). This combined with a high-speed start-up of just 1.1 second, gives the Lumix ZR3 an ultra-fast response that helps to catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities. Additionally, the 2.7-inch large Intelligent LCD screen offers a dynamic, clear view and automatically adjusts its own brightness level. Also, the DMC-ZR3 accepts the SD/SDHC Memory Card, but is also compatible with the next-generation SDXC Memory

Steve’sDigicams reviews the Panasonic Lumix ZR3 and writes:
“The  Lumix DMC-ZR3 is a very nice compact camera. This unit offers the benefits of a small pocket-size camera, with some of the versatility of a super-zoom with it’s 8x optical zoom and Intelligent Zoom function. The camera captures pleasing photos and video in various shooting conditions, and also does well in lower lighting. Not to mention the ZR3 is quite fast for a camera in this price range.”

CNET  writes:
“White balance is very good, other than being a little warm indoors when set to Auto. Exposure is also very good, and  Intelligent Exposure does a good job of rescuing shadow details without overexposing highlights.. Video quality is good, on par with a pocket minicamcorder. Like those, if you do a lot of panning or you’re shooting fast-moving subjects, you’ll see a fair amount of judder. You do get use of the zoom lens while recording, and despite being a mono mic, sound quality was very good.“

Digitalcamera-hq writes:
“The ZR3’s image quality is what I expected: sharp shots almost every time, but room for improvement indoors. It’s a real treat outdoors, and I had a great time taking nature shots. I wasn’t blown away by either image or video, but overall, the ZR3 pretty much met my expectations for image quality, considering the price.”

PCWorld writes:
“The focusing of the LUMIX DMC-ZR3 is fast and accurate. It has a face recognition mode that can easily track a face if it’s moving across the screen. Furthermore, you can lock the focus on any object, which will then track it and keep it in focus even if it moves toward you, away from you or side to side. Video can be captured at the press of a button, regardless of the position of the mode dial — even if you’re in pin-hole mode. The camera captures video at 1280×720 and it can autofocus relatively quickly while doing so.”

Digitalcamerainfo writes:
“The DMC-ZR3 packs a lot of features into a small, cute package. New in this model are an improved image stabilization and a longer zoom lens, but this camera is missing some of the fancy features found on other new models; there is no panorama mode, fast shooting or other special features. What it does have, however, is the promise of good image quality from the 14.1 megapixel images it captures at a very decent price: the ZR3 will be priced at $300 and will be available in the spring.”

PhotographyBlog writes:
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 produced images of very good quality during the review period. The 1/2.33 inch, 14 megapixel sensor used in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 produces noise-free images at ISO 100 and 200, with ISO 400 also looking good, although there’s slight loss of saturation. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3 dealt extremely well with chromatic aberrations, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only at the edges of the frame in high contrast situations.”

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