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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Panasonic FS12 versus Sony HX30V, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was introduced 3 years before the HX30V and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FS12 matches up versus the HX30V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony HX30V

 FS12 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic FS12

 HX30V FS12 
RevealedFebruary 2012April 2009More recent by 34 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX30V

 FS12 HX30V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS12 has external dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS12 versus Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the FS12 and the HX30V.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS12 and HX30V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and HX30V.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony HX30V to offer more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older FS12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX30V Portrait photography highlights
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
45
you can focus manually
good resolution (18MP)
features face detect focusing
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography features
Sony HX30V Landscape photography features
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
50
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone support
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-04-17 2012-02-28
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 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
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 range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync 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 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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 129 grams (0.28 lbs) 254 grams (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 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 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - 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 card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $228 $420