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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • New Model is Panasonic LZ40
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2018
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic LZ30 versus Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the HX99 (18MP) is fairly close but the LZ30 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The LZ30 was manufactured 6 years earlier than the HX99 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX99 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the LZ30 scores against the HX99 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Sony HX99

 LZ30 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic LZ30

 HX99 LZ30 
LaunchedSeptember 2018January 2013More modern by 68 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Sony HX99

 LZ30 HX99 
Display size3"3.00"Same display measurement

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LZ30 has external dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Sony HX99 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Panasonic LZ30 versus Sony HX99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the LZ30 compared to the HX99.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the LZ30 and HX99 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The image below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the LZ30 and HX99.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LZ30 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX99 will render more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged LZ30 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Portrait photography camera
32
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
53
manual focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
Street photography with Sony HX99
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
77
screen tilts
image stabilization
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (242 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
Sports photography with Sony HX99
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization
decent MP (18MP)
provides tracking focus
great battery (360 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography details
Sony HX99 Travel photography details
56
good battery power (380 shots)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
76
great battery (360 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (242g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography information
Sony HX99 Landscape photography information
45
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
good battery power (380 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
58
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.00 inches)
image stabilization
decent MP (18MP)
saves RAW formats
great battery (360 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging factors
Sony HX99 Vlogging factors
22
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
76
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
image stabilization
provides face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average in class (242 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no microphone support
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2018-09-01
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.00 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 242 grams (0.53 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" 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 380 images 360 images
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $230 $469