Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony RX10 III

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony RX10 III, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and RX10 III (20MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and RX10 III (1") use different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The ZS1 was released 7 years earlier than the RX10 III and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS1 grades vs the RX10 III when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS1 Gallery and Sony RX10 III Gallery.

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS1 has got outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX10 III has dimensions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony RX10 III in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS1 and the RX10 III.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS1 and RX10 III is 91 and 53 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS1 and RX10 III.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony RX10 III will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The older ZS1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.