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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
Sony HX100V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 27-810mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 577g - 122 x 87 x 93mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Replacement is Sony HX200V
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the HX100V (16MP) is pretty well matched and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was unveiled 10 months after the HX100V and they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX100V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ5 matches up against the HX100V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Sony HX100V

 SZ5 HX100V 
LaunchedJuly 2012October 2011More modern by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX100V over the Panasonic SZ5

 HX100V SZ5 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX100V

 SZ5 HX100V 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic SZ5 provides exterior dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony HX100V has specifications of 122mm x 87mm x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 577 grams (1.27 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ5 versus the HX100V.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ5 and HX100V is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The image here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ5 and HX100V.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX100V to give you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer SZ5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
Sony HX100V Portrait photography information
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
39
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography features
Sony HX100V Street photography features
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (577 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography details
Sony HX100V Sports photography details
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
long zoom range (27-810mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography details
Sony HX100V Travel photography details
70
lighter than competition (136 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
54
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (27mm)
great reach (810mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (577g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
Landscape photography with Sony HX100V
42
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
47
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (27mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging info
Sony HX100V Vlogging info
32
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (136 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
25
reasonably wide (27mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (577g)
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX100V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX100V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-07-18 2011-10-21
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 27-810mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Screen LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 12.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 grams (0.30 pounds) 577 grams (1.27 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 122 x 87 x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7")
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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $195 $429