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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
44 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
50
 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
61
 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
57
 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
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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
53
 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
Photography Glossary
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