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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Released January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS50
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic ZS45 versus Sony WX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the ZS45 (16MP) and WX5 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS45 was launched 4 years after the WX5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the ZS45 grades versus the WX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Sony WX5

 ZS45 WX5 
IntroducedJanuary 2015July 2010More modern by 55 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k461kCrisper screen (+579k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Panasonic ZS45

 WX5 ZS45 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Sony WX5

 ZS45 WX5 
Manual focus No manual focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS45 offers outer measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony WX5 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS45 versus Sony WX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS45 and the WX5.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS45 and WX5 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The image below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS45 and WX5.

Clearly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Panasonic ZS45 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent ZS45 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
Portrait photography with Sony WX5
37
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
Street photography with Sony WX5
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
Sports photography with Sony WX5
56
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (350 CIPA)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX5 Travel photography highlights
71
good battery (350 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
58
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography details
Sony WX5 Landscape photography details
48
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good battery (350 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
37
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging info
Sony WX5 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
32
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Sony WX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-01-06 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 21 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.8 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
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 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 gr (0.55 pounds) 146 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $300 $250