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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V 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
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX9V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FH20 (14MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FH20 was revealed 18 months earlier than the HX9V which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the FH20 scores against the HX9V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Sony HX9V

 FH20 HX9V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Panasonic FH20

 HX9V FH20 
RevealedJuly 2011January 2010More recent by 18 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX9V

 FH20 HX9V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FH20 enjoys physical measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Sony HX9V has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX9V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the FH20 compared to the HX9V.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH20 and HX9V is 93 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FH20 and HX9V.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony HX9V to resolve greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older FH20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography features
Sony HX9V Portrait photography features
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
39
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Street photography info
Sony HX9V Street photography info
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (245g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH20
Sports photography with Sony HX9V
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
low fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Travel photography factors
Sony HX9V Travel photography factors
64
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competitors (245g)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography info
Sony HX9V Landscape photography info
37
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
49
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX9V as a Vlogging camera
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
33
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (245 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic FH20 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Sony HX9V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Also called Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-01-06 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
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
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
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/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178 grams (0.39 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - 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/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $179 $328