Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony RX10 IV

Following is a extensive overview of the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony RX10 IV, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the RX10 IV (20MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") feature different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The ZS45 was manufactured 3 years before the RX10 IV which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the ZS45 grades against the RX10 IV in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic ZS45 Gallery and Sony RX10 IV Gallery.

If you are going to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with physical dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 IV has dimensions of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") and a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony RX10 IV in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS45 against the RX10 IV.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS45 and RX10 IV is 91 and 52 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out specs. The image underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and RX10 IV.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS45 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony RX10 IV will provide extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged ZS45 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.