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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 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
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and S950 (10MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS45 was announced 5 years later than the S950 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the ZS45 grades against the S950 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Sony S950

 ZS45 S950 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015February 2009Fresher by 72 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Panasonic ZS45

 S950 ZS45 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony S950

 ZS45 S950 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS45 comes with physical measurements 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 S950 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS45 and the S950.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the ZS45 and S950 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS45 and S950.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS45 to produce greater detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer ZS45 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S950 as a Portrait photography camera
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
25
you can focus manually
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Street photography camera
Sony S950 as a Street photography camera
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (249g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery (350 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
24
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography information
Sony S950 Travel photography information
71
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
lighter than average (249g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
50
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS45
Landscape photography with Sony S950
47
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
better than average battery (350 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
31
you can focus manually
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging advice
Sony S950 Vlogging advice
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (249 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Sony S950
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-01-06 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 21 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 grams (0.55 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 350 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $300 $130