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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX200V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX400V
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX300, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was manufactured 4 years before the HX300 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the FS12 matches up versus the HX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony HX300

 FS12 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic FS12

 HX300 FS12 
RevealedFebruary 2013April 2009Fresher by 46 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX300

 FS12 HX300 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS12 has got physical dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the FS12 versus the HX300.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the FS12 and HX300 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out specifications. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and HX300.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX300 to show more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older FS12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
Portrait photography with Sony HX300
21
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
42
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography info
Sony HX300 Street photography info
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
features tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography factors
Sony HX300 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography features
Sony HX300 Landscape photography features
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
48
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX300 Vlogging highlights
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
25
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competitors (623g)
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-04-17 2013-02-20
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129g (0.28 lbs) 623g (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal -
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $228 $339