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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Announced April 2009
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony HX1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS1 (10MP) and the HX1 (9MP) is relatively similar but the ZS1 (1/2.5") and HX1 (1/2.4") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS1 was announced very close to the HX1 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the ZS1 grades versus the HX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Sony HX1

 ZS1 HX1 

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Panasonic ZS1

 HX1 ZS1 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony HX1

 ZS1 HX1 
AnnouncedMay 2009April 2009Similar generation
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS1 has exterior measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony HX1 has dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony HX1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS1 against the HX1.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS1 and HX1 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading specs. The pic underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS1 and HX1.

All in all, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS1 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS1 will offer you extra detail with its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures much more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography information
Sony HX1 Portrait photography information
25
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
27
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography factors
Sony HX1 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
more heavy than average in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography info
Sony HX1 Sports photography info
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competition (229 grams)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
48
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (544g)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
39
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competition (229g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
22
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1440 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (544 grams)
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Sony HX1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-05-14 2009-04-22
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
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 speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
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) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1440x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229 gr (0.50 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $47,999