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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic FH6
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 56 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2012
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Succeeded the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic FH6 versus Sony HX30V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the FH6 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FH6 was introduced within a month of the HX30V and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the FH6 scores versus the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH6 over the Sony HX30V

 FH6 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic FH6

 HX30V FH6 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH6 and Sony HX30V

 FH6 HX30V 
RevealedJanuary 2012February 2012Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FH6 provides outside measurements of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH6 versus Sony HX30V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FH6 compared to the HX30V.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FH6 and HX30V is 96 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The pic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH6 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Sony HX30V to offer extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively.

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Portrait photography details
Sony HX30V Portrait photography details
33
decent MP (14MP)
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
45
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Street photography highlights
Sony HX30V Street photography highlights
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (119 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Sports photography factors
Sony HX30V Sports photography factors
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
great battery life (280 shots)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH6 Travel photography advice
Sony HX30V Travel photography advice
70
great battery life (280 shots)
lighter than average in class (119g)
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH6 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
41
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
great battery life (280 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
50
focusing manually
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH6 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (119g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
34
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
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Panasonic FH6 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH6 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-09 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 measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.5-6.4 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.60 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 119 gr (0.26 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 56 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life 280 photographs 320 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $129 $420