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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
76
Overall
61

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS50
Sony RX10
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 II
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the RX10 (20MP) is very well matched but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and RX10 (1") boast totally different sensor size.

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The ZS45 was announced 10 months after the RX10 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the ZS45 grades against the RX10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Sony RX10

 ZS45 RX10 
ReleasedJanuary 2015March 2014More modern by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 over the Panasonic ZS45

 RX10 ZS45 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display resolution1290k1040kClearer display (+250k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony RX10

 ZS45 RX10 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with outer dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 has sizing of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") having a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the ZS45 against the RX10.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS45 and RX10 is 91 and 58 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and RX10.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS45 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony RX10 will resolve more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The fresher ZS45 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
Portrait photography with Sony RX10
37
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
70
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography information
Sony RX10 Street photography information
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (249g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
72
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography features
Sony RX10 Sports photography features
55
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
good battery power (350 per charge)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
67
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
weather proof
better than average battery life (420 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS45
Travel photography with Sony RX10
71
good battery power (350 CIPA)
lighter than others (249g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
58
better than average battery life (420 shots)
weather proof
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Landscape photography camera
47
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
good battery power (350 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
63
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery life (420 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
Vlogging with Sony RX10
34
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (249g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
30
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Sony RX10
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-01-06 2014-03-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 21 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.8
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Crop factor 5.9 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 1,290k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - WhiteMagic
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 10.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249g (0.55 pounds) 813g (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 474
Other
Battery life 350 photos 420 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $300 $698