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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50

Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise 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 WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ5 (14MP) and the WX50 (16MP) is very similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was brought out 6 months after the WX50 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ5 grades against the WX50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Sony WX50

 SZ5 WX50 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Panasonic SZ5

 WX50 SZ5 
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Sony WX50

 SZ5 WX50 
RevealedJuly 2012January 2012Similar generation
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ5 features outside 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) and the Sony WX50 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ5 vs the WX50.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ5 and WX50 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ5 and WX50.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony WX50 to offer you extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography information
Sony WX50 Portrait photography information
34
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
Street photography with Sony WX50
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
Sports photography with Sony WX50
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
44
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography advice
Sony WX50 Travel photography advice
70
lighter than competition (136 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than others (117g)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
Landscape photography with Sony WX50
42
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
38
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
Vlogging with Sony WX50
32
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition (136 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
35
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (117g)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Sony WX50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-07-18 2012-01-30
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 surface 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 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Screen LCD Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m 5.30 m
Flash modes 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
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 images 240 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $195 $250