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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Sony HX20V
(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 July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was launched 4 years prior to the HX20V and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the FS12 grades vs the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony HX20V

 FS12 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic FS12

 HX20V FS12 
AnnouncedJuly 2012April 2009More recent by 39 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX20V

 FS12 HX20V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS12 offers outer measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FS12 and the HX20V.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and HX20V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FS12 and HX20V.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony HX20V to give more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots far more aggressively. The older FS12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX20V Portrait photography factors
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
45
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
features face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography features
Sony HX20V Street photography features
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX20V Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging information
Sony HX20V Vlogging information
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-04-17 2012-07-20
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 31-124mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 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 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129g (0.28 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $228 $397