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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Panasonic FS15 and Sony WX30, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FS15 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the WX30 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FS15 grades versus the WX30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony WX30

 FS15 WX30 

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Panasonic FS15

 WX30 FS15 
RevealedJuly 2011January 2009More recent by 30 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony WX30

 FS15 WX30 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS15 enjoys outside dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS15 and Sony WX30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the FS15 and the WX30.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS15 and WX30 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The visual underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FS15 and WX30.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony WX30 to offer more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older FS15 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
Portrait photography with Sony WX30
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
30
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX30 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography factors
Sony WX30 Landscape photography factors
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
43
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging details
Sony WX30 Vlogging details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
35
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony WX30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-01-16 2011-07-25
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 29-145mm (5.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.70 m
Flash options Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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
Battery life - 250 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $180 $259