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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30
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
  • Announced February 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony HX20V
  • Updated by Sony HX50V
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX30V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the FH20 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FH20 was released 3 years prior to the HX30V which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the FH20 scores vs the HX30V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony HX30V

 FH20 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic FH20

 HX30V FH20 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012January 2010Newer by 26 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX30V

 FH20 HX30V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH20 comes with physical dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst 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).

Examine the Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the FH20 against the HX30V.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH20 and HX30V is 93 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specs. The picture here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FH20 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony HX30V to provide extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged FH20 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX30V Portrait photography factors
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
45
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FH20
Street photography with Sony HX30V
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography details
Sony HX30V Sports photography details
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
64
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than average (254g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH20
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
37
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
50
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging advice
Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Also called as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-01-06 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-224mm (8.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178 gr (0.39 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 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 - 320 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $179 $420