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Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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 HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Launched July 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic S1 and Sony HX9V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the S1 (12MP) and HX9V (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S1 was unveiled 6 months earlier than the HX9V which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the S1 scores versus the HX9V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Sony HX9V

 S1 HX9V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Panasonic S1

 HX9V S1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Sony HX9V

 S1 HX9V 
LaunchedJanuary 2011July 2011Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S1 offers physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony HX9V has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Panasonic S1 and Sony HX9V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the S1 vs the HX9V.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S1 and HX9V is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The image here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1 and HX9V.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony HX9V to give you more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S1 Portrait photography features
Sony HX9V Portrait photography features
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
38
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S1 Street photography factors
Sony HX9V Street photography factors
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX9V Sports photography highlights
27
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX9V as a Travel photography camera
62
lighter than competition (117 grams)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic S1
Landscape photography with Sony HX9V
32
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
49
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S1 Vlogging details
Sony HX9V Vlogging details
31
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Sony HX9V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-05 2011-07-19
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 dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 117g (0.26 lb) 245g (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 240 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $269 $328