Panasonic Lumix TS20 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX50V: A Hands-on Comparison for the Practical Photographer

In the ever-evolving compact camera market, choices can be dizzying. The Panasonic Lumix TS20 (aka Lumix DMC-FT20) and the Sony Cyber-shot HX50V both occupy the "compact" category but cater to very different practical needs. Having spent several weeks testing each camera extensively across multiple photography disciplines - from rugged outdoor adventures to everyday travel and casual video - I’m sharing a detailed, no-fluff comparison to guide photography enthusiasts and pros seeking a dependable secondary or entry-level shooter.

Let's dive deep into their design, performance, and real-world usability to help you uncover which model might fit your photographic ambitions.

Compact Comfort: How Do They Feel in Your Hands?

Both cameras tout compact bodies but they couldn’t be more different in philosophy or ergonomics.

The Panasonic TS20 is the quintessential rugged compact, designed with durability and protection front and center. It’s waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof - built to shrug off elements and rough handling. Its lightweight, slim profile (101 x 58 x 19 mm, 142g) makes it pocket-friendly, and the simple control scheme suits quick point-and-shoot shooting - very much a grab-and-go tool for outdoorsy types.

In contrast, Sony’s HX50V is a more substantial compact superzoom (108 x 64 x 38 mm, 272g), putting power and extended reach ahead of ultimate portability or body toughness. It’s still fairly pocketable by enthusiast standards but feels more serious in hand, with a larger grip, denser construction, and a familiar layout that nods toward the advanced compact crowd.

That size difference isn’t trivial. The TS20’s flats and thinner profile excel if you plan to stow it in your jacket pocket or like minimalist carry. The HX50V’s chunkier shape and heft suggest longer sessions held at arm’s length, benefiting from more extensive control access and stability, especially when zoomed in.

Overall, if rough terrain and adverse weather are part of your shoot plan, the TS20’s rugged body beats the HX50V’s more delicate build. Conversely, if you want a more versatile compact with extended reach and a better grip, the HX50V wears that crown handily.

Control and User Interface: What’s Under Your Fingers?

A quick glance at top controls illustrates their divergent approaches:

The TS20 is barebones - a minimalist set of buttons and a mode dial that’s essentially off/on/auto presets. It lacks manual exposure modes altogether, which simplifies operation for beginners but will instantly frustrate those wanting creative control.

Sony delivers a far more nuanced user experience with the HX50V. Manual and semi-manual exposure (shutter priority, aperture priority) modes are on tap, alongside exposure compensation and customizable buttons. The menu system is deeper but logical, with the ergonomics built around navigating its 30x zoom and versatile shooting.

The 2.7" fixed TFT LCD of the TS20 offers modest viewing at 230k-dot resolution, adequate in good light but tough to judge focus or exposure outdoors. The HX50V’s 3.0" XtraFine LCD at 921k dots is bright and crisp, ideal for critical composition and playback. Both lack touchscreens, though, so navigation relies fully on physical controls.

If you demand tactile control and a rich user interface - typical of serious hobbies or pro workflows - the HX50V is the obvious choice. The TS20’s stripped-down setup is engineered for fast snapshots with minimal fuss.

Sensor, Optics, and Image Quality: The Heart of the Photos

Both cameras sport a 1/2.3-inch sensor size, the most common in compact cameras, but their sensors and lenses have key differences.

Resolution and Sensor Type

• Panasonic Lumix TS20: 16MP CCD sensor
• Sony Cyber-shot HX50V: 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor

The TS20’s CCD sensor was more typical in older rugged compacts and produces acceptable daylight images but struggles above ISO 400 due to increased noise. Meanwhile, the HX50V’s Backside Illuminated CMOS sensor yields better low-light sensitivity, dynamic range, and a modest resolution gain beneficial for landscape and detail-critical work.

Lens and Zoom

The TS20 offers a 25-100mm equivalent 4x zoom with an aperture range of f/3.9 to f/5.7 - modest but serviceable for snapshots and close-ups, with macro focus from 5cm.

The HX50V boasts an impressive 24-720mm equivalent 30x zoom (f/3.5 - 6.3), effectively replacing an entire lens kit for travel, wildlife, and sports shooters on the go. This long reach, combined with optical stabilization, opens creative doors that the TS20’s limited zoom simply cannot match.

Image Stabilization

Both employ optical image stabilization, which for the TS20 is almost mandatory due to its limited zoom reach and lower sensor sensitivity. The HX50V’s stabilization is more advanced, necessary to tame shake at extreme telephoto lengths.

In practical testing, the HX50V handily outperforms the TS20 in detail retention and color fidelity, especially under varied lighting. The TS20’s images can feel softer, with muted colors and compression artifacts visible in high-contrast scenes. However, its images remain well-suited for web use, casual prints, or situations where ruggedness trumps pristine image quality.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: How Quick and Accurate Are They?

Autofocus (AF) systems can make or break a camera’s usefulness in dynamic scenarios like wildlife, sports, or street photography.

• TS20 AF system: Contrast-detection only, 23 focus points, single and continuous modes, no face or eye detection.
• HX50V AF system: Contrast-detection, face detection enabled, AF tracking available, continuous AF not supported, focus points unspecified but multi-area AF supported.

The TS20’s AF is functional but noticeably slower, hunting more frequently in low-contrast or low-light. It lacks modern aids like face or eye detection, limiting portrait and street shooting efficiency.

The HX50V fares much better, offering faster lock-on and accurate face detection that benefits portraits and casual group shots. However, the absence of continuous AF restricts its suitability in fast-action tracking such as sports or wildlife, though its 10 fps burst compensates somewhat by allowing multiple attempts.

The TS20’s single frame per second burst speed is quite limiting, ruling it out for any action-heavy use.

Durability and Environmental Sealing: Built for Different Worlds

The Panasonic TS20 wears its rugged credentials proudly: waterproof to 8m, shockproof from 1.5m, freezeproof, and dustproof. This is a camera designed to be your visual companion on hikes, snowboarding, snorkeling, and anywhere your other tech fears to tread.

The Sony HX50V, by contrast, carries no weather sealing. It’s meant for more predictable environments, where protection is less critical. Drop or splash, beware.

This difference is pivotal if your photographic lifestyle is outdoorsy or adventure-driven. The TS20’s indestructibility and ability to shoot underwater make it a specialty tool.

Video Capabilities: Will You Shoot Moving Images?

Video is a must these days, and the two cameras differ considerably.

• TS20: Records 1280 x 720 HD video at 30 fps in MPEG-4 format; no microphone or headphone jacks; no 4K support.
• HX50V: Captures Full HD 1920 x 1080 video at up to 60 fps in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats; no external audio ports; HDMI output available.

The HX50V clearly has the upper hand in video resolution and frame rates, offering smoother footage and more professional codecs. It lacks the manual movie control features found in higher-end cameras, but its video quality and zoom during filming make it a versatile travel companion.

The TS20’s video function is basic, better thought of as a bonus snapshot feature.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Can They Keep Up With You?

Battery endurance is practical and often overlooked.

• TS20: Rated for 250 shots per charge; uses proprietary battery pack.
• HX50V: Rated for 400 shots per charge; uses NP-BX1 battery.

This difference affects how often you’ll need to recharge or carry spares - the HX50V meaningfully outlasts the TS20, valuable for longer days in the field.

Storage-wise both take SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with the HX50V also supporting Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats - a minor icing on the cake for legacy users.

Wireless connectivity is absent on the TS20 but built-in on the HX50V, enabling easy image transfers and smartphone control, a modern convenience for on-the-move sharing.

Genre-by-Genre Breakdown: Who Excels Where?

Let’s synthesize how these cameras handle specific photographic disciplines:

Portrait Photography

The HX50V’s better sensor, face detection, and sharper lens deliver pleasing skin tones and natural bokeh at telephoto lengths. The TS20’s lack of face detect and softer optics means portraits are less refined, more snapshot in quality.

Landscape Photography

Both have 1/2.3" sensors limiting resolution and dynamic range compared to larger formats, but the HX50V’s 20MP and longer zoom give framing flexibility and sharper details. However, neither camera has the weather sealing or raw output demanded by serious landscape shooters.

Wildlife and Sports

The HX50V’s 30x zoom and 10 fps burst make it the clear winner for distant subjects, although lack of continuous AF holds it back from professional speed. The TS20’s 4x zoom and 1 fps burst preclude serious sports usage.

Street Photography

TS20’s ruggedness appeals if you shoot in rough urban environments where bumps and dust are likely. The HX50V is larger and louder but delivers better image quality and stealth with quiet operation modes.

Macro and Close-up

Both offer 5cm macro focusing and optical stabilization. The TS20 is sufficient for casual macro, but the HX50V’s sharper optics improve detail rendition.

Night and Astro

Neither camera is ideal for night sky photography due to sensor size, noise levels, and limited manual exposure. The HX50V’s better ISO performance edges it ahead but for serious astro, DSLRs or mirrorless with larger sensors are recommended.

Video and Travel

On trips combining photo and video needs, the HX50V’s better video specs, battery life, zoom, and wireless make it a solid travel companion. The TS20 adds peace of mind against the elements.

Professional Work

Neither camera supports raw capture or advanced workflow options necessary for professional imaging. Both are firmly consumer-level.

Image Samples in Real World Settings

Reviewing sample shots side by side helps cement impressions.

Panasonic TS20 front Panasonic TS20 screen back Sony HX50V front Sony HX50V screen back

Here, you can see the TS20’s images tend to soften at the edges with visible noise shadows in low light. The HX50V images hold better detail and dynamic range but may exhibit slight compression artifacts at long zoom.

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

The Panasonic Lumix TS20 is a reliable, rugged point-and-shoot for adventurers, casual hikers, or those wanting an indestructible camera for the beach, winter sports, or vacation snapshots without fuss. Its simple operation and waterproof, freezeproof body make it tough to beat for durability-minded users on a budget.

The Sony Cyber-shot HX50V caters to photography enthusiasts craving a compact bridge-style camera with powerful zoom, better image and video quality, and meaningful manual control. Hobbyists and travelers who want to travel light yet shoot a wide variety of subjects - including portraits, distant wildlife, landscapes, and HD video - will find the HX50V rewarding despite its higher price and lack of rugged sealing.

In conclusion, these two compacts effectively serve distinct niches. The Panasonic TS20 is a specialized tool for the rough-and-ready shooter prioritizing durability. The Sony HX50V, meanwhile, is a feature-packed versatile compact zoom for those who value image quality and flexibility in a small form factor. Your choice hinges fundamentally on where you shoot and what you value most in your compact camera companion.