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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Old Model is Sony RX100
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 III
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony RX100 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the ZS20 (14MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the ZS20 (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") feature different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The ZS20 was revealed 14 months before the RX100 II making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the ZS20 scores versus the RX100 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Sony RX100 II

 ZS20 RX100 II 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Panasonic ZS20

 RX100 II ZS20 
LaunchedJune 2013April 2012More modern by 14 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Sony RX100 II

 ZS20 RX100 II 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS20 provides physical dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony RX100 II has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS20 versus Sony RX100 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS20 compared to the RX100 II.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and RX100 II is 92 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and RX100 II.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS20 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony RX100 II will deliver more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged ZS20 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
30
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
70
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (206g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography details
Sony RX100 II Sports photography details
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has tracking focus
better than average battery (350 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
Sony RX100 II Travel photography info
68
lighter than competition in class (206g)
supports focus by touch
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
80
better than average battery (350 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography advice
42
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (350 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
Sony RX100 II Vlogging info
34
quite wide (24mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
37
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Sony RX100 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-04-26 2013-06-27
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206 grams (0.45 lb) 281 grams (0.62 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 483
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 350 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $349 $598