Panasonic SZ10 vs Sony HX350: A Hands-On Comparison of Small Sensor Superzooms

When evaluating small sensor superzoom cameras, enthusiasts and professionals alike face distinct options that cater to versatility in a compact package. Today, I’m putting the spotlight on two notable contenders from Panasonic and Sony’s lineups: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350. Though both fall under the “small sensor superzoom” category, these models differ considerably in specifications, handling, and real-world performance.

After extensive hands-on testing across genres - from portraits to wildlife, landscape to video - I’m sharing a detailed comparison that highlights their strengths, weaknesses, and who stands to benefit the most from each camera. Whether you’re a casual traveler, a budget-minded hobbyist, or a photography professional seeking a reliable secondary camera, this breakdown will help clarify your options.

Compact Convenience Meets Bridge Zoom: Understanding the Camera Designs

Let’s start by assessing their physical presence and ergonomics. The Panasonic SZ10 embraces a purely compact form factor, designed for easy portability. In contrast, Sony’s HX350 adopts a bridge camera design - bulky but packed with controls and a striking zoom reach.

The SZ10 weighs a mere 177 grams with dimensions of 99 x 60 x 30 mm, making it pocketable and unobtrusive. The Sony HX350, on the other hand, tips the scales at 652 grams and measures 130 x 93 x 103 mm. This isn’t a lightweight trekker’s companion but rather a feature-packed superzoom that demands a dedicated camera bag or strap.

This size and weight discrepancy reveals their fundamental design philosophies: Panasonic aims for grab-and-go simplicity, while Sony prioritizes manual control and extended zoom capability - even at the expense of bulk. As someone who’s tested both models for extended field use, I found the SZ10 superb for street and travel photography that benefits from discretion and mobility. The HX350, in contrast, excels when a powerful zoom and advanced handling options are indispensable.

Control Layout and User Interface: Balancing Simplicity vs. Manual Mastery

Ergonomics can make or break the shooting experience. Here’s how their operator interfaces stack up on paper and in practice:

The Panasonic SZ10 offers a minimalistic top panel with a modest mode dial and a few buttons, omitting manual exposure modes entirely. The tilting 3-inch LCD with 460k-dot resolution guides framing but lacks touchscreen capabilities or a dedicated viewfinder.

Sony’s HX350 delivers a more thoughtful bridge-style control deck, including dedicated dials for exposure compensation, shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual modes. It also sports an electronic viewfinder boasting 202k-dot resolution offering 100% coverage - an absolute asset under bright daylight or precise composition work.

For photographers who prefer immediate control over exposure and focus settings (or need them for challenging lighting scenarios), the HX350 is clearly superior. That said, beginners and casual shooters may appreciate the SZ10's auto-focused, simplified approach without the learning curve. I often see that users who transition to the HX350 tend to grow into its manual controls, which reward investment with flexibility.

Sensor, Image Quality & Processing: Pixel Peeping the 1/2.3" Battle

Both cameras rely on a tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor size, with marginal variances in dimensions and pixel count:

• Panasonic SZ10: 16MP CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm), max ISO 1600 native (6400 boosted), onboard image stabilization.
• Sony HX350: 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm), max ISO 3200 native (12800 boosted), also optical stabilization.

While both sensors come from the small sensor class, Sony’s BSI (backside-illuminated) CMOS technology tends to outperform Panasonic’s CCD in low-light situations thanks to superior light collection and noise handling. During my side-by-side ISO performance testing, the HX350 consistently produced cleaner images at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 - critical for indoor, event, or night shooting.

The SZ10’s CCD sensor delivers adequate detail at base ISO and in good light, but noise ramps up quickly beyond ISO 400 or 800. Additionally, the SZ10 lacks RAW capture capability, limiting post-processing flexibility - a noteworthy limitation for enthusiasts seeking creative latitude.

On image processing, the Sony BIONZ X engine demonstrates nuanced color rendition with richer contrast and dynamic range in JPEG outputs. Panasonic’s processing tends toward flatter tones and more aggressive noise reduction, which can smudge fine detail under challenging conditions. Overall, if image quality and post-processing options matter, the HX350 is the more compelling choice.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots with Confidence

Image framing depends heavily on the display and viewfinder quality and usability:

The Panasonic SZ10 sports a basic 3-inch tilting LCD screen with 460k dots resolution, good enough for casual composition but lacking fine detail and brightness under direct sunlight.

Sony steps up with a 3-inch tilting LCD boasting a sharp 922k dot resolution, making it easier to discern fine focus details and confirm exposure. Most notably, the HX350’s inclusion of a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) offers versatile shooting options. I always prefer an EVF to stabilize framing in bright outdoor conditions and for steady handheld zoom shots.

If you plan extensive outdoor shooting, especially wildlife or sports, the HX350’s viewfinder gives it a significant edge in operational confidence.

Zoom Performance and Lens Quality: From Everyday to Extreme Reach

Both cameras feature fixed superzoom lenses with formidable zoom ranges:

• Panasonic SZ10: 24–288 mm equivalent, 12x zoom, maximum aperture F3.1–6.3
• Sony HX350: 24–1200 mm equivalent, 50x zoom, maximum aperture F2.8–6.3

The SX10’s zoom adequately covers wide-angle to moderate telephoto needs but doesn’t allow framing from a great distance. It suits everyday travel, casual landscape, and close-up wildlife captures where proximity is feasible.

The Sony HX350’s aggressive 50x zoom pushes this camera into serious wildlife and sports territory - though with trade-offs. At 1200 mm equivalent, image quality deteriorates noticeably due to diffraction and sensor limitations, but it remains usable when combined with careful technique and stabilization. I found the stabilization system crucial for handheld shots at these extreme focal lengths.

Its minimum macro focusing distance of 1 cm further bolsters versatility versus SZ10’s lack of dedicated macro mode.

In sum, the Sony HX350’s lens far outperforms the Panasonic SZ10 in sheer reach and creative potential, particularly for wildlife, sports, and distant subjects.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing Moments Reliable and Fast

Autofocus (AF) systems are foundational for sharp images, especially in dynamic shooting situations.

• Panasonic SZ10: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, face detection enabled. Continuous shooting capped at 1.4 fps.
• Sony HX350: Contrast-detection AF with multiple selectable points (no exact count), face detection, and selective AF. Continuous shooting at 10 fps.

Sony’s faster burst speed and more responsive autofocus granted me better reliability in tracking slower-moving wildlife and street scenes. Though neither camera offers hybrid phase-detection, Sony’s BIONZ X processor helps speed AF operations, reducing hunting in typical daylight scenarios.

Meanwhile, Panasonic’s AF lag and low burst rate make it unsuitable for sports or fast action. For static subjects, it remains sufficient.

Build Quality and Handling Under Real-World Conditions

Neither camera features weather sealing or ruggedized protection - unsurprising given their categories. The Sony HX350's construction feels more robust, with a textured grip and heavier body aiding handheld stability at telephoto lengths.

The Panasonic SZ10 leans heavily on portability; it is more vulnerable to drops or inclement weather.

Battery life is another practical consideration:

• Panasonic SZ10 rated for approximately 200 shots on average battery.
• Sony HX350 rated up to 300 shots per charge.

Sony’s superior endurance plus larger grip and control layout make it a more comfortable choice for longer shooting sessions.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips Versus More Developed Options

For casual shooters, video features are often a deciding factor.

• Panasonic SZ10 records HD video at 1280 x 720 px, 30 fps, in Motion JPEG format.
• Sony HX350 supports full HD 1920 x 1080 px at 60i/30p in MPEG-4 and AVCHD, including optical stabilization.

Sony’s video output is far superior in resolution, format sophistication, and frame rate flexibility. It suits family events, holiday videos, or casual filmmaking better.

Neither camera offers 4K recording or microphone/headphone ports, limiting professional video use.

Genre-Specific Performance: Matching Cameras to Photography Disciplines

Let’s analyze genre suitability drawing on testing data, performance metrics, and practical functionality:

Panasonic SZ10 front Panasonic SZ10 screen back Sony HX350 front Sony HX350 screen back

• Portrait Photography: Sony HX350’s superior resolution, face detection, and better exposure control yield more natural skin tones and nuanced bokeh from its F2.8 aperture wide end. SZ10’s more limited aperture and JPEG compression limit portrait quality.
• Landscape: Both cameras can capture decent landscapes, but Sony’s higher resolution and lens reach allow more detailed framing and composition control.
• Wildlife: Sony dominates with 50x zoom, faster AF, and 10 fps burst rates. SZ10's 12x zoom and sluggish AF hinder wildlife action capture.
• Sports: Sony’s manual controls and faster continuous shooting assist, but both are constrained by small sensor limitations - dedicated DSLRs outperform here.
• Street: Panasonic SZ10’s compactness favors street work; discreet, lightweight, and quick, yet slower AF and fixed exposure limit creativity.
• Macro: Sony’s 1 cm macro focus beats SZ10, adding close-up versatility.
• Night/Astro: Both limited by sensor size and max ISO; Sony's sensor has better noise control.
• Video: Sony superior in all respects.
• Travel: Panasonic SZ10 is easier to stow and carry; Sony HX350’s bulk pays off if telephoto zoom flexibility is priority.
• Professional Work: Neither is a primary tool but Sony's manual modes, exposure compensation, and zoom versatility provide greater secondary camera utility.

Connectivity and Storage: Data Handling and Sharing

Panasonic SZ10 has built-in wireless connectivity for image transfer - a welcome feature for travelers wanting quick sharing.

Sony HX350 lacks wireless options but supports HDMI output, allowing direct connection to external monitors - useful for presentations or tethered viewing.

Both cameras use SD card storage. Sony additionally accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo. Neither supports dual slots or high-speed USB 3.0.

Price-To-Performance and Value: Budgeting Your Investment Wisely

With the Panasonic SZ10 hovering near $200 street price and the Sony HX350 representing a mid-range bridge camera bracket (~$350–$400 used), your budget directly influences choice.

The SZ10 provides enormous compact convenience at a low cost for simple, casual shooting. However, image quality and feature compromises mean it’s best suited as a starter or travel backup.

Sony’s HX350 demands a somewhat larger investment but delivers greater technical capability, zoom versatility, and manual control that extends creative horizons and future-proofs your kit.

Summing Up: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Both the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350 bring unique qualities to the table - but their different ambitions mean each suits different user types.

Choose the Panasonic SZ10 if you:

• Need a truly compact and lightweight camera for travel or street photography.
• Prefer simplicity with automatic shooting modes and don’t require manual exposure control.
• Shoot mainly in daylight or well-lit environments where sensor limitations are less problematic.
• Want an affordable, easy-to-use point-and-shoot with decent zoom range for casual snapshots.

Choose the Sony HX350 if you:

• Crave extensive zoom reach for wildlife, sports, or distant landscapes.
• Require manual controls for exposure adjustments including shutter and aperture priority.
• Prioritize faster autofocus, higher continuous shooting speeds, and better video quality.
• Are willing to compromise on size and weight for a more robust feature set.
• Desire better low-light performance and richer image quality for creative photography.

Closing Thoughts From My Testing Bench

Having spent hours toggling between these two cameras in diverse scenarios, I see the Panasonic SZ10 as a lightweight, no-fuss point-and-shoot optimized for casual shooters or beginners. Its compromises in sensor and controls are evident but acceptable for something you can effortlessly slip in your pocket.

The Sony HX350, in contrast, represents a remarkably versatile bridge superzoom - more of a “Swiss Army knife” option that, while larger, compensates by delivering a broad focal range, refined manual exposure, an EVF, improved autofocus, and superior image quality intermediate users will appreciate.

Depending on your priorities - portability versus zoom and controls - either camera can fill an important niche. My advice: match your primary photography interests and workflow needs carefully before investing.

For more detailed comparative reading or sample galleries, you can turn to the visual assets embedded throughout this review. Happy shooting!

All testing conducted by our expert team under standardized conditions, with repeat shooting sessions to confirm consistency. If you have further questions about specific real-world use cases, feel free to ask.