Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX300

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The ZS15 was unveiled 7 months prior to the HX300 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the ZS15 grades versus the HX300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS15 Gallery and Sony HX300 Gallery.

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS15 provides external measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has proportions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony HX300 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS15 against the HX300.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS15 and HX300 is 92 and 63 respectively.

In many cases, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The visual below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS15 and HX300.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Sony HX300 to deliver greater detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older ZS15 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.