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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Here is a complete review of the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony NEX-5T, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS20 (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The ZS20 was unveiled 16 months earlier than the NEX-5T making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief summation of how the ZS20 matches up against the NEX-5T in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony NEX-5T

 ZS20 NEX-5T 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5T over the Panasonic ZS20

 NEX-5T ZS20 
RevealedAugust 2013April 2012Fresher by 16 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony NEX-5T

 ZS20 NEX-5T 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS20 provides outer dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5T has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony NEX-5T in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS20 and the NEX-5T.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS20 and NEX-5T is 92 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The visual here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and NEX-5T.

Plainly, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS20 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-5T will show extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS20 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography highlights
30
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than others in class (206g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-5T Sports photography factors
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
features tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
69
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-5T Travel photography details
68
lighter than others in class (206g)
supports focus via touch
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
77
features focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography highlights
42
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging advice
34
decently wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
73
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no image stabilization
no mic port
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony NEX-5T
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-26 2013-08-27
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 99
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206g (0.45 pounds) 276g (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1015
Other
Battery life 260 shots 330 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $349 $400