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Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500

Portability
68
Imaging
35
Features
45
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ47
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 498g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FZ48
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Old Model is Sony WX350
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Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Panasonic FZ47 and Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the FZ47 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FZ47 was unveiled 4 years prior to the WX500 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FZ47 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the FZ47 scores versus the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ47 over the Sony WX500

 FZ47 WX500 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Panasonic FZ47

 WX500 FZ47 
IntroducedApril 2015July 2011More modern by 45 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FZ47 and Sony WX500

 FZ47 WX500 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FZ47 enjoys external dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") having a weight of 498 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ47 and Sony WX500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the FZ47 and the WX500.

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the FZ47 and WX500 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ47 and WX500.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony WX500 to resolve extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged FZ47 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 Portrait photography advice
Sony WX500 Portrait photography advice
38
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
has face detect focus
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
39
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has face detect focus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
43
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than average in class (498 grams)
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
great battery power (400 shots)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
great battery (360 CIPA)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
51
great battery power (400 shots)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (498 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery (360 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ47
Landscape photography with Sony WX500
43
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
great battery power (400 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
49
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
great battery (360 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ47 Vlogging information
Sony WX500 Vlogging information
27
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone support
more heavy than average in class (498 grams)
35
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
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Panasonic FZ47 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ47 and Sony WX500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Also called Lumix DMC-FZ48 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-07-21 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 498 gr (1.10 lb) 236 gr (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 400 images 360 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $379 $348