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Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 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 HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
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Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Panasonic S3 versus Sony HX30V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The S3 was revealed 13 months earlier than the HX30V which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the S3 matches up against the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Sony HX30V

 S3 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic S3

 HX30V S3 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2011Fresher by 13 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Sony HX30V

 S3 HX30V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic S3 features external 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 HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic S3 versus Sony HX30V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the S3 and the HX30V.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and HX30V is 96 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The photograph here will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony HX30V to render greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older S3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography information
Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
45
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18MP)
comes with face detection focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography information
Sony HX30V Street photography information
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
Sony HX30V Sports photography factors
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography info
Sony HX30V Travel photography info
68
lighter than average in class (117g)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX30V Landscape photography advice
38
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
50
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
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Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-05 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 117 gr (0.26 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
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 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 250 photographs 320 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack 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 media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $110 $420