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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300

Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LZ20
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ40
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Announced February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • New Model is Sony HX400V
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic LZ30 and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The LZ30 was introduced very close to the HX300 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the LZ30 grades vs the HX300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Sony HX300

 LZ30 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic LZ30

 HX300 LZ30 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Sony HX300

 LZ30 HX300 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013February 2013Same age
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LZ30 provides external measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has measurements of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LZ30 and Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the LZ30 and the HX300.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LZ30 and HX300 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through a spec sheet. The image here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the LZ30 and HX300.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony HX300 to provide you with more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
31
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
42
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Street photography features
Sony HX300 Street photography features
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competition (552g)
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Sports photography camera
47
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
offers tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
56
good battery life (380 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (875mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (552 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
54
good resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (623g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography info
Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
44
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good battery life (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
48
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX300 Vlogging highlights
22
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition (552g)
25
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
heavier than competitors (623 grams)
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-07 2013-02-20
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
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 380 photos -
Form of battery AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $230 $339