Clicky

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic LS5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 97 x 62 x 27mm
  • Introduced July 2011
Sony HX20V
(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
  • Announced July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • New Model is Sony HX30V
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic LS5 versus Sony HX20V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the LS5 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The LS5 was revealed 12 months before the HX20V and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the LS5 matches up versus the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic LS5 over the Sony HX20V

 LS5 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic LS5

 HX20V LS5 
AnnouncedJuly 2012July 2011More modern by 12 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LS5 and Sony HX20V

 LS5 HX20V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LS5 provides exterior measurements of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic LS5 versus Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the LS5 vs the HX20V.

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the LS5 and HX20V is 94 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The picture here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the LS5 and HX20V.

All in all, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony HX20V to result in extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged LS5 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX20V Portrait photography advice
33
resolution is good (14MP)
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
45
has manual focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX20V Sports photography highlights
32
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (160 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Panasonic LS5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (126g)
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than others in class (254g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Landscape photography features
Sony HX20V Landscape photography features
36
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery (160 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
50
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LS5 Vlogging advice
Sony HX20V Vlogging advice
32
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competition (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (254g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Panasonic LS5 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LS5 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-07-21 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.60 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 gr (0.28 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 62 x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 160 images 320 images
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $294 $397