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Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Introduced August 2020
  • Updated by Panasonic S5 II
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
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX10V
  • Renewed by Sony HX30V
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the S5 (24MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the S5 (Full frame) and HX20V (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The S5 was launched 8 years later than the HX20V and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the S5 grades versus the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Sony HX20V

 S5 HX20V 
RevealedAugust 2020July 2012Fresher by 99 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1840k922kClearer display (+918k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic S5

 HX20V S5 

Common features in the Panasonic S5 and Sony HX20V

 S5 HX20V 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3.0"3"Equivalent display measurements

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S5 provides physical measurements of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the S5 against the HX20V.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S5 and HX20V is 60 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the S5 and HX20V.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The S5 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic S5 will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher S5 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S5 Portrait photography details
Sony HX20V Portrait photography details
85
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
45
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S5 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
78
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no phase detect auto focus
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S5 Travel photography factors
Sony HX20V Travel photography factors
79
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
MP count good (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (254g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic S5
Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
86
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.0 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
50
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S5 Vlogging factors
Sony HX20V Vlogging factors
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic support
34
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (254 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S5 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2020-08-14 2012-07-20
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.6 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Leica L fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 31 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.0 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,840 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/8000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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 w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 714 gr (1.57 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 One
Price at launch $1,999 $397