Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99

Lets look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the HX99 (18MP) is pretty well matched but the ZS30 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) come with different sensor dimensions.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The ZS30 was manufactured 6 years prior to the HX99 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZS30 grades versus the HX99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery & Sony HX99 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 features exterior measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Sony HX99 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 versus Sony HX99 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS30 against the HX99.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and HX99 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS30 and HX99.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The ZS30 features the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler. The more aged ZS30 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.