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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Renewed by Sony HX30V
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS5 was released 3 years before the HX20V which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the ZS5 matches up vs the HX20V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Sony HX20V

 ZS5 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Panasonic ZS5

 HX20V ZS5 
RevealedJuly 2012June 2010Newer by 25 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX20V

 ZS5 HX20V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS5 provides external dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX20V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS5 versus the HX20V.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and HX20V is 92 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over specs. The image below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS5 and HX20V.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony HX20V to deliver more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged ZS5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography information
Sony HX20V Portrait photography information
27
supports face detect focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
45
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18MP)
provides face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography information
Sony HX20V Sports photography information
31
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography info
Sony HX20V Travel photography info
63
lighter than competition (214g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than average (254g)
decent megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography information
Sony HX20V Landscape photography information
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
50
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging advice
Sony HX20V Vlogging advice
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than competition (214g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (254g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX20V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-06-16 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine HD II BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.30 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lb) 254 grams (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" 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 - 320 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $300 $397