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Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 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
  • Succeeded the Sony HX10V
  • Updated by Sony HX30V
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the S1 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S1 was unveiled 18 months before the HX20V making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the S1 scores versus the HX20V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Sony HX20V

 S1 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic S1

 HX20V S1 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2011Fresher by 18 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Sony HX20V

 S1 HX20V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S1 offers external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the S1 and the HX20V.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the S1 and HX20V is 96 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and HX20V.

As you have seen, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony HX20V to result in extra detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older S1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic S1
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
features face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S1 Street photography highlights
Sony HX20V Street photography highlights
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 Travel photography advice
Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
62
lighter than average (117g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S1 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX20V Landscape photography advice
32
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
50
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-05 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV BIONZ
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 area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117 gr (0.26 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 240 photographs 320 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $269 $397