Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V
67 Imaging
36 Features
62 Overall
46


90 Imaging
41 Features
50 Overall
44
Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
- 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
- Launched July 2010
- Later Model is Panasonic FZ200
(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 February 2012
- Older Model is Sony HX20V
- Replacement is Sony HX50V

Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Overview
Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic FZ100 and Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the FZ100 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

The FZ100 was revealed 19 months prior to the HX30V which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.
Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the FZ100 matches up versus the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V. The full galleries are available at Panasonic FZ100 Gallery and Sony HX30V Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Sony HX30V
FZ100 | HX30V | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic FZ100
HX30V | FZ100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | February 2012 | ![]() | July 2010 | Fresher by 19 months |
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper screen (+462k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic FZ100 and Sony HX30V
FZ100 | HX30V | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical screen measurement |
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither features Touch screen |
Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison
For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ100 enjoys outer dimensions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).
Look at the Panasonic FZ100 and Sony HX30V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the FZ100 and the HX30V.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FZ100 and HX30V is 67 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing technical specs. The photograph here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FZ100 and HX30V.
As you can tell, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony HX30V to render more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older FZ100 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ100 vs Sony HX30V Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Launched | 2010-07-21 | 2012-02-28 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Venus Engine FHD | BIONZ |
Sensor type | CMOS | 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 | 14 megapixel | 18 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4896 x 3672 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 25-600mm (24.0x) | 25-500mm (20.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-5.2 | f/3.2-5.8 |
Macro focusing range | 1cm | 1cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 460k dots | 922k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | - | XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 11.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 9.50 m | 7.10 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (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 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | AVCHD | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 540 grams (1.19 lbs) | 254 grams (0.56 lbs) |
Dimensions | 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") | 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") |
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 | - | 320 photographs |
Battery style | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at launch | $500 | $420 |