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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V

Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Announced January 2018
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the GH5S (10MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the GH5S (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The GH5S was announced 5 years after the HX20V which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the GH5S grades vs the HX20V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Sony HX20V

 GH5S HX20V 
ReleasedJanuary 2018July 2012Newer by 67 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k922kClearer display (+698k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic GH5S

 HX20V GH5S 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5S and Sony HX20V

 GH5S HX20V 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH5S features physical dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the GH5S compared to the HX20V.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH5S and HX20V is 62 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The pic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH5S and HX20V.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GH5S with its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony HX20V will offer extra detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more recent GH5S should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Portrait photography information
Sony HX20V Portrait photography information
62
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
45
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5S as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
68
screen articulates
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
environment proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH5S
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH5S
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
61
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
megapixel count good (18MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH5S
Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
63
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH5S as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
68
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic support
lack of image stabilization
34
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5S and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5SSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2018-01-08 2012-07-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine 10 BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3680 x 2760 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 51200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,620 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options 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
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 660 gr (1.46 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 440 pictures 320 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual 1
Retail pricing $2,498 $397