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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Sony HX99

 ZS30 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic ZS30

 HX99 ZS30 
ReleasedSeptember 2018January 2013Newer by 68 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony HX99

 ZS30 HX99 
Screen sizing3"3.00"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

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

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good resolution (18MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
53
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography factors
Sony HX99 Street photography factors
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition (198g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
77
screen tilts
built in image stabilization
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (242 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography info
Sony HX99 Sports photography info
46
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization
good resolution (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (360 shots)
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
Sony HX99 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition (198 grams)
provides focus by touch
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery life (260 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
76
better than average battery (360 per charge)
lighter than competition (242 grams)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
Landscape photography with Sony HX99
44
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
58
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3.00")
built in image stabilization
good resolution (18MP)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3-inch)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX99 as a Vlogging camera
35
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
76
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touch screen
built in image stabilization
has face detection focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition (242g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Alternate name Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-07 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 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
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of display 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lbs) 242 gr (0.53 lbs)
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 photographs 360 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $250 $469