Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5
94 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36


92 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
- 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
- Launched January 2014
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- 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

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Overview
On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony HX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ8 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the SZ8 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") posses totally different sensor sizes.

The SZ8 was brought out 3 years after the HX5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ8 scores vs the HX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ8 Gallery and Sony HX5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony HX5
SZ8 | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | January 2014 | ![]() | June 2010 | Newer by 44 months |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Panasonic SZ8
HX5 | SZ8 |
---|
Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony HX5
SZ8 | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | No manual focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal screen dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither has selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither has Touch friendly screen |
Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic SZ8 has external dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony HX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ8 versus the HX5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and HX5 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by researching specs. The pic here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ8 and HX5.
All in all, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ8 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ8 will result in greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer SZ8 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony HX5 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2014-01-06 | 2010-06-16 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine | 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 surface area | 27.7mm² | 27.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3456 x 2592 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 3200 |
Max enhanced ISO | 6400 | - |
Min native ISO | 100 | 125 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 24-288mm (12.0x) | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.1-6.3 | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus distance | - | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen technology | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 8s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/1600s |
Continuous shutter speed | 1.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 5.20 m | 3.80 m |
Flash options | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off | Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro |
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 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 159 grams (0.35 lbs) | 200 grams (0.44 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall 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 | 200 pictures | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | - | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at release | $275 | $275 |