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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase 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 HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FS12 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the FS12 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") posses different sensor measurements.

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The FS12 was unveiled 14 months earlier than the HX5 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the FS12 scores against the HX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Sony HX5

 FS12 HX5 

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Panasonic FS12

 HX5 FS12 
IntroducedJune 2010April 2009More modern by 14 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX5

 FS12 HX5 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS12 features physical dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the FS12 against the HX5.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and HX5 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The image underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and HX5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FS12 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FS12 will show more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged FS12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
Portrait photography with Sony HX5
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
Sony HX5 Street photography advice
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
55
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography advice
Sony HX5 Sports photography advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography details
Sony HX5 Landscape photography details
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
37
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
Sony HX5 Vlogging features
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic support
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic socket
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Panasonic FS12 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Sony HX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-04-17 2010-06-16
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance 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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129 grams (0.28 lbs) 200 grams (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $228 $275