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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS70
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic ZS80 versus Sony RX100 III, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS80 (20MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is relatively similar but the ZS80 (1/2.3") and RX100 III (1") possess totally different sensor size.

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The ZS80 was unveiled 3 years later than the RX100 III and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the ZS80 scores vs the RX100 III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Sony RX100 III

 ZS80 RX100 III 
ReleasedFebruary 2018May 2014Fresher by 46 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Panasonic ZS80

 RX100 III ZS80 
Screen resolution1229k1040kSharper screen (+189k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony RX100 III

 ZS80 RX100 III 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS80 provides external dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony RX100 III has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS80 versus Sony RX100 III 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 differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS80 compared to the RX100 III.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS80 and RX100 III is 86 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS80 and RX100 III.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The ZS80 features the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult. The newer ZS80 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography details
54
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
64
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
75
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Sports photography information
Sony RX100 III Sports photography information
61
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 shots)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
65
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Travel photography info
Sony RX100 III Travel photography info
79
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
has bluetooth
has touch to focus
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
85
lighter than others in class (290g)
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Landscape photography camera
62
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
73
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
73
fairly wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no external mic support
80
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (290g)
lack of mic socket
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS80 and Sony RX100 III
 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Also called Lumix DC-TZ95 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-02-18 2014-05-15
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,330 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m (with 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 -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 327g (0.72 lbs) 290g (0.64 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 495
Other
Battery life 380 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $448 $748