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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2018
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the ZS20 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) offer totally different sensor size.

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The ZS20 was revealed 7 years earlier than the HX99 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the ZS20 grades vs the HX99 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony HX99

 ZS20 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic ZS20

 HX99 ZS20 
LaunchedSeptember 2018April 2012Newer by 77 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX99

 ZS20 HX99 
Display dimensions3"3.00"Equal display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS20 offers outside dimensions 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 HX99 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX99 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the ZS20 versus the HX99.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and HX99 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The pic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and HX99.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS20 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX99 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged ZS20 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
Portrait photography with Sony HX99
30
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
53
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than average (206 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Sports photography camera
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
58
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than average (206g)
features touch to focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery (260 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
76
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
Landscape photography with Sony HX99
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
58
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3.00 inch)
built in image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18MP)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (360 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3-inch)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging factors
Sony HX99 Vlogging factors
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
76
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization
features face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have mic jack
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-04-26 2018-09-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest 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 AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3.00"
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
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 metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206g (0.45 pounds) 242g (0.53 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 images 360 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $349 $469