Clicky

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
29
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Announced January 2013
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the SZ3 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The SZ3 was introduced 3 years before the HX90V which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ3 scores versus the HX90V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Sony HX90V

 SZ3 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Panasonic SZ3

 HX90V SZ3 
RevealedApril 2015January 2013More modern by 27 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic SZ3 and Sony HX90V

 SZ3 HX90V 
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic SZ3 provides external dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX90V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ3 and the HX90V.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ3 and HX90V is 96 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by viewing specifications. The pic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ3 and HX90V.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony HX90V to result in greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SZ3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX90V Portrait photography advice
30
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
45
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Street photography highlights
Sony HX90V Street photography highlights
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography advice
Sony HX90V Sports photography advice
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography info
Sony HX90V Travel photography info
71
lighter than others (126g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
76
better than average battery (360 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
Sony HX90V Landscape photography info
38
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
53
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging details
Sony HX90V Vlogging details
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
75
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no external mic port
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ3 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ3 and Sony HX90V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
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 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126g (0.28 pounds) 245g (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 photos 360 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $150 $440