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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Key Specs

Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS70
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Launched March 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10 II
  • Successor is Sony RX10 IV
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

The following is a complete review of the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony RX10 III, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS80 (20MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is relatively comparable but the ZS80 (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS80 was released 24 months after the RX10 III which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS80 scores versus the RX10 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Sony RX10 III

 ZS80 RX10 III 
LaunchedFebruary 2018March 2016Newer by 24 months
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Panasonic ZS80

 RX10 III ZS80 
Screen resolution1229k1040kCrisper screen (+189k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony RX10 III

 ZS80 RX10 III 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS80 comes with outside measurements of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 III has dimensions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") accompanied by a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony RX10 III in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS80 against the RX10 III.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS80 and RX10 III is 86 and 53 respectively.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by seeing technical specs. The image here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS80 and RX10 III.

As you can tell, both of those cameras offer the same exact MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The ZS80 has got the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field trickier. The fresher ZS80 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography advice
54
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Street photography camera
75
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
boasts focus by touch
very small sensor (1/2.3")
64
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
environment proof
more heavy than competitors in class (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS80
Sports photography with Sony RX10 III
61
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery power (380 per charge)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
70
great zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery (420 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS80
Travel photography with Sony RX10 III
79
great battery power (380 shots)
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
55
good battery (420 shots)
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (1,051 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Landscape photography info
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography info
62
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
exports RAW files
great battery power (380 shots)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
63
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
environment proof
good battery (420 per charge)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS80
Vlogging with Sony RX10 III
73
really wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no external mic support
28
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone socket
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (1,051g)
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS80 and Sony RX10 III
 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Also called Lumix DC-TZ95 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-18 2016-03-29
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,330k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 14.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (with Auto ISO) 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 327g (0.72 pounds) 1051g (2.32 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 472
Other
Battery life 380 images 420 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $448 $1,398