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Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5

Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2010
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Panasonic SZ3 versus Sony HX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the SZ3 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the SZ3 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") provide different sensor sizing.

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The SZ3 was released 2 years later than the HX5 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ3 scores versus the HX5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Sony HX5

 SZ3 HX5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013June 2010More recent by 32 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Panasonic SZ3

 HX5 SZ3 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Sony HX5

 SZ3 HX5 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ3 offers exterior dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Panasonic SZ3 versus Sony HX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ3 against the HX5.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ3 and HX5 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements simply by researching specs. The photograph here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and HX5.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic SZ3 will render more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern SZ3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
Portrait photography with Sony HX5
30
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
20
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography highlights
Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
55
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
Travel photography with Sony HX5
71
lighter than competition (126g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
60
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography information
Sony HX5 Landscape photography information
39
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
37
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX5 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
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Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Sony HX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-01-07 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 126 gr (0.28 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 250 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $150 $275