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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Released February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX200V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZR1 was introduced 4 years earlier than the HX300 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the ZR1 grades against the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Sony HX300

 ZR1 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic ZR1

 HX300 ZR1 
ReleasedFebruary 2013July 2009More recent by 43 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony HX300

 ZR1 HX300 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZR1 has external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the ZR1 vs the HX300.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR1 and HX300 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The photograph here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZR1 and HX300.

As you have seen, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony HX300 to produce greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older ZR1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX300 Portrait photography factors
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
42
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography features
Sony HX300 Street photography features
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
features tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
Travel photography with Sony HX300
57
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (623 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography features
Sony HX300 Landscape photography features
32
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
48
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging details
Sony HX300 Vlogging details
28
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
25
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (623g)
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-27 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine V -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.10 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 pounds) 623g (1.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal -
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $280 $339