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Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Released November 2017
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • New Model is Sony HX50V
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Panasonic G9 and Sony HX30V, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the G9 (20MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is relatively well matched but the G9 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The G9 was revealed 5 years after the HX30V which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the G9 matches up against the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Sony HX30V

 G9 HX30V 
ReleasedNovember 2017February 2012Newer by 70 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k922kSharper screen (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic G9

 HX30V G9 

Common features in the Panasonic G9 and Sony HX30V

 G9 HX30V 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G9 comes with outside measurements of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic G9 and Sony HX30V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the G9 versus the HX30V.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G9 and HX30V is 62 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by looking at a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the G9 and HX30V.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The G9 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic G9 will give greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent G9 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G9 Portrait photography information
Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
76
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
45
focusing manually
decent MP (18MP)
provides face detect focusing
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G9 Street photography advice
Sony HX30V Street photography advice
75
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
70
environment sealing
has bluetooth
has focus via touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G9 Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
76
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
50
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G9 Vlogging factors
Sony HX30V Vlogging factors
76
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G9 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2017-11-08 2012-02-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.83x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 658 grams (1.45 lb) 254 grams (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photos 320 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 2 Single
Launch pricing $1,500 $420