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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
45
Features
57
Overall
49

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Key Specs

Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS35
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed April 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX30V
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Sony HX50V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was unveiled 3 months earlier than the HX50V which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the ZS30 matches up vs the HX50V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Sony HX50V

 ZS30 HX50V 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Panasonic ZS30

 HX50V ZS30 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony HX50V

 ZS30 HX50V 
RevealedJanuary 2013April 2013Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 has external dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony HX50V has specifications of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS30 versus Sony HX50V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS30 and the HX50V.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and HX50V is 92 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The graphic below will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and HX50V.

As you can tell, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony HX50V to produce extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX50V Portrait photography advice
33
decent megapixels (18MP)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
51
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
has face detection focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography info
Sony HX50V Street photography info
66
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (198 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (272g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
Sports photography with Sony HX50V
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
58
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery power (400 CIPA)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
Travel photography with Sony HX50V
69
lighter than competitors in class (198g)
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (260 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
good battery power (400 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (272 grams)
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX50V Landscape photography factors
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
54
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
good battery power (400 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
Vlogging with Sony HX50V
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (198 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (272g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Sony HX50V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-07 2013-04-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 5184 x 2920
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198g (0.44 pounds) 272g (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 400 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $250 $439