Panasonic TS30 vs Sony RX100

Below is a extended assessment of the Panasonic TS30 and Sony RX100, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the TS30 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is very comparable but the TS30 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") boast totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TS30 was revealed 2 years later than the RX100 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS30 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the TS30 matches up against the RX100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic TS30 Gallery & Sony RX100 Gallery.

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic TS30 provides physical dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Panasonic TS30 and Sony RX100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the TS30 compared to the RX100.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the TS30 and RX100 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing specs. The photograph below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TS30 and RX100.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TS30 using its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony RX100 will provide extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher TS30 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.