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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX10V
  • Later Model is Sony HX30V
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS20 was introduced 2 months prior to the HX20V and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the ZS20 matches up versus the HX20V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony HX20V

 ZS20 HX20V 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic ZS20

 HX20V ZS20 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX20V

 ZS20 HX20V 
IntroducedApril 2012July 2012Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS20 offers outer measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS20 vs the HX20V.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS20 and HX20V is 92 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through specifications. The pic here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS20 and HX20V.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony HX20V to result in greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX20V Portrait photography advice
30
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography info
Sony HX20V Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (206g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography features
Sony HX20V Sports photography features
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
68
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery life (260 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX20V Landscape photography advice
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery life (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
50
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
Sony HX20V Vlogging info
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-04-26 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206g (0.45 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $349 $397