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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50

Portability
91
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 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
  • Launched May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the ZS1 (10MP) and WX50 (16MP) and the ZS1 (1/2.5") and WX50 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The ZS1 was launched 3 years prior to the WX50 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the ZS1 scores versus the WX50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Sony WX50

 ZS1 WX50 

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Panasonic ZS1

 WX50 ZS1 
IntroducedJanuary 2012May 2009More modern by 33 months
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony WX50

 ZS1 WX50 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS1 provides physical 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 WX50 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS1 vs the WX50.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and WX50 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS1 and WX50.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony WX50 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged ZS1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Portrait photography camera
24
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography highlights
Sony WX50 Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS1
Sports photography with Sony WX50
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect AF
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX50 Travel photography highlights
62
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than others (117g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX50 Landscape photography highlights
30
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
38
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX50 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (229g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
35
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Sony WX50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-05-14 2012-01-30
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229 gr (0.50 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 life - 240 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $250