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Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Announced August 2020
  • Replacement is Panasonic S5 II
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
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Updated by Sony HX50V
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic S5 and Sony HX30V, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the S5 (24MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the S5 (Full frame) and HX30V (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The S5 was introduced 8 years later than the HX30V and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the S5 scores versus the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Sony HX30V

 S5 HX30V 
RevealedAugust 2020February 2012Fresher by 103 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1840k922kClearer screen (+918k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic S5

 HX30V S5 

Common features in the Panasonic S5 and Sony HX30V

 S5 HX30V 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen sizing3.0"3"Equivalent screen size

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic S5 has physical dimensions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic S5 and Sony HX30V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the S5 against the HX30V.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S5 and HX30V is 60 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the S5 and HX30V.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The S5 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic S5 will offer you more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher S5 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S5 Portrait photography details
Sony HX30V Portrait photography details
85
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
45
has manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
includes face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S5 Street photography features
Sony HX30V Street photography features
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
provides focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (51,200)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S5 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX30V Sports photography highlights
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
79
weather proof
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
megapixel count decent (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
69
lighter than others (254 grams)
resolution is good (18MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX30V Landscape photography highlights
86
you can focus manually
change lenses (Leica L mount)
nice screen size (3.0 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
50
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S5 Vlogging factors
Sony HX30V Vlogging factors
79
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have microphone support
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S5 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2020-08-14 2012-02-28
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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 51200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
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 distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 31 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.0 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,840 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/8000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 714g (1.57 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
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 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 images 320 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
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 Single
Retail price $1,999 $420