Clicky

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the ZR1 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) boast totally different sensor sizing.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

The ZR1 was launched 10 years earlier than the HX99 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the ZR1 scores versus the HX99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Sony HX99

 ZR1 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic ZR1

 HX99 ZR1 
ReleasedSeptember 2018July 2009Fresher by 110 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.00"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony HX99

 ZR1 HX99 

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR1 comes with outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony HX99 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the ZR1 compared to the HX99.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZR1 and HX99 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR1 and HX99.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZR1 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony HX99 will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older ZR1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography info
Sony HX99 Portrait photography info
21
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
53
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography advice
Sony HX99 Street photography advice
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (242 grams)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography details
Sony HX99 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
58
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery (360 CIPA)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
lack of phase detect AF
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX99 Travel photography highlights
57
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
76
good battery (360 shots)
lighter than average in class (242g)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Landscape photography camera
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
58
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3.00")
has image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
saves RAW files
good battery (360 shots)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
missing Timelapse function
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging info
Sony HX99 Vlogging info
28
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
76
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than average in class (242g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
missing external microphone support
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Alternative name Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-07-27 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine V -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3.00 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.10 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 158 gr (0.35 lb) 242 gr (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 360 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $280 $469