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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS25
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Old Model is Sony HX200V
  • Updated by Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS20 was unveiled 10 months earlier than the HX300 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the ZS20 matches up against the HX300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony HX300

 ZS20 HX300 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Panasonic ZS20

 HX300 ZS20 
RevealedFebruary 2013April 2012More modern by 10 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX300

 ZS20 HX300 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS20 features outside dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony HX300 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS20 versus the HX300.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and HX300 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and HX300.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony HX300 to offer you greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged ZS20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography details
Sony HX300 Portrait photography details
30
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
42
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
Sony HX300 Sports photography info
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
offers tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography features
Sony HX300 Travel photography features
68
lighter than others in class (206g)
has touch focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (623g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX300 Landscape photography advice
42
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
48
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging details
Sony HX300 Vlogging details
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
25
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition (623 grams)
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-26 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.40 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206g (0.45 lbs) 623g (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $349 $339