Clicky

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Released February 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is pretty similar and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The SZ1 was introduced around the same time to the HX30V so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ1 scores vs the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Sony HX30V

 SZ1 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic SZ1

 HX30V SZ1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ1 and Sony HX30V

 SZ1 HX30V 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ1 has got external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ1 versus the HX30V.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and HX30V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ1 and HX30V.

Clearly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony HX30V to offer extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX30V Portrait photography highlights
34
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
offers face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (131 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography advice
Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography info
Sony HX30V Travel photography info
70
lighter than average (131g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
43
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
50
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging advice
Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
32
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than average (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ1 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-09 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 4cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (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 MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 131 gr (0.29 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 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 250 pictures 320 pictures
Battery form 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $179 $420