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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX7V, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is relatively comparable and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was brought out 13 months later than the HX7V which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ5 scores against the HX7V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Sony HX7V

 SZ5 HX7V 
LaunchedJuly 2012July 2011Fresher by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Panasonic SZ5

 HX7V SZ5 
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX7V

 SZ5 HX7V 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ5 enjoys outer measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Sony HX7V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX7V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ5 and the HX7V.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ5 and HX7V is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ5 and HX7V.

Clearly, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony HX7V to show greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more modern SZ5 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
Sony HX7V Portrait photography information
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
29
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Street photography details
Sony HX7V Street photography details
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (136g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography details
Sony HX7V Sports photography details
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography advice
Sony HX7V Travel photography advice
70
lighter than competitors (136 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX7V Landscape photography highlights
42
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
42
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging info
Sony HX7V Vlogging info
32
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (136 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
32
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX7V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-07-18 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Screen LCD XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lb) 208 gr (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $195 $499