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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS20
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the ZS15 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS15 was unveiled 7 years prior to the HX99 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the ZS15 grades vs the HX99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Sony HX99

 ZS15 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic ZS15

 HX99 ZS15 
ReleasedSeptember 2018June 2012Fresher by 75 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony HX99

 ZS15 HX99 
Screen dimension3"3.00"Identical screen measurement

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS15 provides outside measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony HX99 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS15 vs the HX99.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS15 and HX99 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS15 and HX99.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS15 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX99 will give you greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The older ZS15 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography features
Sony HX99 Portrait photography features
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
53
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS15
Street photography with Sony HX99
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
77
tilting screen
image stabilization
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
Sports photography with Sony HX99
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
58
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
good battery power (360 CIPA)
very small sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than average in class (208g)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery power (260 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
76
good battery power (360 shots)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
Landscape photography with Sony HX99
37
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
58
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.00 inches)
image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
exports RAW files
good battery power (360 CIPA)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging advice
Sony HX99 Vlogging advice
33
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (208g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
76
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
image stabilization
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-06-29 2018-09-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-384mm (16.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.00 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lbs) 242 grams (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 life 260 pictures 360 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $279 $469