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Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS200
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Replaced the Sony RX100 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Panasonic ZS100 versus Sony RX100 III, both Large Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS100 (20MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is very comparable and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1").

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The ZS100 was unveiled 20 months later than the RX100 III making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a concise overview of how the ZS100 grades vs the RX100 III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Sony RX100 III

 ZS100 RX100 III 
ReleasedJanuary 2016May 2014More recent by 20 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Panasonic ZS100

 RX100 III ZS100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k1040kCrisper display (+189k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS100 and Sony RX100 III

 ZS100 RX100 III 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS100 has external measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 III has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS100 versus Sony RX100 III in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS100 vs the RX100 III.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS100 and RX100 III is 87 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS100 and RX100 III.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical resolution so you should expect comparable quality of files although you will want to factor the production date of the cameras into account. The fresher ZS100 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography highlights
64
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
64
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Street photography features
Sony RX100 III Street photography features
78
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (312g)
fixed screen
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (290 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography details
Sony RX100 III Sports photography details
67
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography advice
Sony RX100 III Travel photography advice
75
lighter than competition in class (312 grams)
supports focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
85
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Landscape photography camera
68
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
73
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS100
Vlogging with Sony RX100 III
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (312g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
80
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
lack of external mic port
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS100 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS100 and Sony RX100 III
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ100 -
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2016-01-05 2014-05-15
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1" 1"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 9.9 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.00 m (at Auto ISO) -
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 312 grams (0.69 lb) 290 grams (0.64 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 67
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 12.3
DXO Low light rating 559 495
Other
Battery life 300 images 320 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $700 $748