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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Introduced May 2009
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Panasonic ZS1 versus Sony H20, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS1 (10MP) and the H20 (10MP) is relatively comparable but the ZS1 (1/2.5") and H20 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS1 was revealed within a month of the H20 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ZS1 scores vs the H20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Sony H20

 ZS1 H20 

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Panasonic ZS1

 H20 ZS1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony H20

 ZS1 H20 
IntroducedMay 2009May 2009Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS1 features outer measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony H20 has proportions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS1 versus Sony H20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the ZS1 versus the H20.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and H20 is 91 and 87 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The visual here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS1 and H20.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The ZS1 features the smaller sensor which will make getting bokeh tougher.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography information
Sony H20 Portrait photography information
25
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
27
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography details
Sony H20 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography features
Sony H20 Sports photography features
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography info
Sony H20 Travel photography info
63
lighter than others in class (229g)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
long reach (380mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (250g)
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography factors
Sony H20 Landscape photography factors
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
36
you can focus manually
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging info
Sony H20 Vlogging info
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (250g)
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Sony H20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-05-14 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 38-380mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing range 3cm 2cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229 grams (0.50 lb) 250 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $0 $249