Panasonic Lumix ZS5 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX300: An Expert Comparison for the Small Sensor Superzoom Enthusiast

In the realm of small sensor superzoom cameras, two models often come up in conversations among enthusiasts and budget-minded photographers aiming for maximum versatility in a compact form: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 (also known as the Lumix DMC-TZ8) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300. Both cameras deliver superzoom capabilities paired with compact designs that make them suitable for travel, casual shooting, and even some semi-professional work - but they diverge quite a bit in features, handling, and photographic potential.

Having spent extensive hands-on hours with both cameras, and drawing on my technical background and real-world testing methodology, this article digs deeply into their strengths and weaknesses. From sensor performance and autofocus reliability to ergonomics and genre-specific suitability, I'll share direct experience alongside technical insight to help you make an informed choice - not just glance at specs.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX300 Overview

Before diving into the details, a quick summary of each camera’s core specs:

Panasonic Lumix ZS5 (2010)

• Compact body: 103 x 60 x 32 mm, 214 g
• Fixed lens: 25-300mm equivalent, 12× zoom, f/3.3–4.9
• Sensor: 1/2.3" CCD, 12MP
• LCD: 2.7" fixed, 230k dots
• Video: 720p HD
• Continuous shooting: 2 fps
• No viewfinder
• Optical image stabilization (OIS)
• Price approx. $300 new (now discontinued/used market)

Sony Cyber-shot HX300 (2013)

• Bridge-style body: 130 x 103 x 93 mm, 623 g
• Fixed lens: 24-1200mm equivalent, 50× zoom, f/2.8–6.3
• Sensor: 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS, 20MP
• LCD: 3" tilting, 921k dots
• EVF: Electronic viewfinder included
• Video: Full HD 1080p, 60 fps
• Continuous shooting: 10 fps
• Optical image stabilization (OIS)
• Price around $340 at launch

From these specs alone, the Sony HX300 asserts itself as a features-rich, more advanced bridge camera with a massive telephoto reach and faster burst shooting. The Panasonic ZS5, while dated, is a sleek and pocketable travel companion with an emphasis on simplicity and decent image quality from its CCD sensor.

But raw numbers only tell part of the story. Let’s unpack how these cameras perform across key photographic disciplines, where real-world use can dramatically shift priorities.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of The Matter

At the core of any camera experience is image quality, largely dictated by sensor technology and processing.

Sensor Technology: CCD vs BSI-CMOS

The Panasonic ZS5 employs a CCD sensor - typical for compact cameras around its 2010 release. CCDs are known for delivering comparatively good color fidelity and low noise at base ISO under proper light, but they often trail CMOS chips in speed and high-ISO behavior due to older manufacturing techniques.

The Sony HX300, on the other hand, sports a more modern BSI-CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels - significantly higher resolution than the ZS5’s 12MP. The Back-Side Illuminated architecture enhances light gathering, especially beneficial in low light, which should improve high ISO performance and dynamic range over the older Panasonic CCD.

Resolution, Dynamic Range, and ISO Performance

I conducted comparative fruit tests, landscapes, and low-light scenes to gauge practical image quality differences:

• Baseline sharpness: Sony’s 20MP rendered noticeably more detail, especially visible at long zooms and in crops. Resolution also allows for larger prints or cropping flexibility.

• Noise at high ISO: Panasonic’s maximum native ISO is 6400; Sony stretches to 12800. In my tests, the HX300 produced cleaner files at ISO 800 and above with smoother gradations and less chroma noise.

• Dynamic range: Despite lacking DxO Mark scores, visual inspection in high-contrast scenes showed Sony’s sensor preserved more highlight details and pulled more shadow nuance.

• Color rendition: Panasonic retains warmer tones and pleasing skin tones straight from the camera, an advantage for portrait and travel shooters biased towards natural rendering.

• Color depth: The ZS5 benefits from the Venus Engine HD II processor tuned for natural colors, but Sony’s newer sensor gives a wider tonal span in certain lighting conditions.

In summation, if sheer image resolution and superior dynamic range in varied lighting matter most, the Sony HX300 has a technical edge, but the Panasonic ZS5 holds its own with a more classic, faithful color interpretation.

Autofocus, Speed & Shooting Responsiveness: Capturing The Moment

Next, I evaluated autofocus speed, accuracy, and continuous shooting - critical for wildlife, sports, and street photographers.

Autofocus Systems

• Panasonic ZS5: Features a contrast-detection AF system with 11 AF points including face detection. It supports single, continuous, and tracking AF but relies purely on contrast detection, resulting in slower locking speeds and sometimes hunting under tricky light.

• Sony HX300: Uses contrast AF with 9 points and selective AF; it also offers tracking, though the face detection feature is absent. Its manual focus control is smooth and responsive due to a dedicated focusing ring.

Autofocus in Practice

During hours in the field shooting birds and moving subjects, the HX300’s AF consistently nailed focus faster and held on better. The ZS5 struggled a bit tracking erratic motion and tended to hunt, especially in low light.

Continuous Shooting

• Panasonic maxes out at about 2 fps - suitable for casual shooters but insufficient for action photography.
• Sony offers 10 fps burst, impressive for its category, enabling usable frames for sports and wildlife.

Manual Focus and Handling

Sony’s inclusion of manual focus superiority with a decent lens ring caters to enthusiasts wanting control. Panasonic’s lack of manual focus control limits this.

These operational differences make HX300 substantially more capable for fast-paced shooting scenarios.

Design, Ergonomics, and User Interface: How They Feel in Your Hands

Physical handling shapes shooting comfort, particularly for long sessions.

Body Type and Size

The ZS5 is a pocket-sized compact that slides easily into a jacket or pants pocket, weighing just 214g. The Sony HX300 sits firmly in the bridge camera class with an SLR-style body, significantly larger and heavier at 623g - a clear tradeoff for advanced controls and zoom range.

Controls and Layout

• Panasonic’s control scheme is minimalist, with limited external dials/toggles. Settings require menu diving; the lack of an electronic viewfinder means you compose using the small fixed screen.
• Sony benefits from a more mature control layout with dedicated dials for shutter speed and aperture, an electronic viewfinder with eye sensor for immediate display switching, and a tilting 3" LCD with substantially better resolution (921k dots vs 230k on Panasonic).

The HX300’s tilting screen is a boon for low and high angle shots, improving flexibility.

Build Quality & Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers robust weather sealing, which is typical at this price point. Both have adequate plastic construction but feel solid enough for casual handling.

Overall, the Panasonic is ideal if size and discretion are paramount, while the Sony is better suited for photographers wanting more tactile control and traditional SLR-style handling.

Lens and Zoom Range: From Wide to Super Telephoto Dreams

Superzoom cameras revolve around adaptable lenses.

• Panasonic ZS5: 25-300 mm equivalent, 12× zoom with an aperture of f/3.3–4.9
• Sony HX300: 24-1200 mm equivalent, a whopping 50× zoom from bright wide f/2.8 to telephoto f/6.3

The HX300’s longer focal length gives it clear superiority for wildlife, surveillance, or any distant subject - no contest.

The Panasonic’s zoom range is limited but still sufficient for travel and everyday shooting with a noticeably brighter aperture at the telephoto end compared to HX300.

For macro, ZS5 offers focusing as close as 3cm, while HX300 lacks explicitly stated macro specs but allows close focusing with manual drive - for practical purposes, both handle casual macro well but without dedicated macro lenses or focus stacking.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Real-World Suitability

Here’s where I break down these models across key photographic applications.

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic ZS5: Produces pleasant skin tones with its CCD sensor and Venus HD processing. The relatively small max aperture limits bokeh, but the 25mm wide lens can manage decent background separation at close range. Face detection AF helps capture sharp eyes in decent light.
• Sony HX300: Higher pixel count aids in detail capture, but the smaller lens aperture, especially at telephoto, limits ambient bokeh. Lack of face detection is a downside. Still, manual focus enables selective control.

Verdict: ZS5 edges out subtly for portrait skin tone due to warmer hues and face detection, but neither camera is ideal for dedicated shallow depth portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Sony HX300: Superior resolution and dynamic range give it an advantage to record intricate detail in foliage and skies. The brighter f/2.8 at wide angle helps in low light landscapes, and image stabilization aids handheld shooting.
• Panasonic ZS5: Lower resolution and smaller screen make it less optimal but offers a compact form and very wide 25mm equivalent for framing.

Both lack weather sealing, so carry protective gear for rugged outdoor use.

Wildlife Photography

• Sony HX300: Absolutely the pick due to 50× zoom, fast burst mode, and better autofocus tracking for capturing birds or distant animals.
• Panasonic ZS5: Limited zoom and slow continuous shooting make it unsuitable beyond casual sightings.

Sports Photography

• Sony’s speed and burst shooting put it into amateur sports territory, especially outdoors. Panasonic simply cannot compete here given slow AF and only 2 fps.

Street Photography

Here size and discretion matter:

• Panasonic’s compact size and pocketability make it discreet for street candids.
• Sony’s bulk and obvious SLR shape draw attention.

Image quality under varied light favors Sony, but the tradeoff can be critical depending on user style.

Macro Photography

Neither camera offers specialized macro modes, but Panasonic’s close focus distance and image stabilization help handheld shots.

Night and Astro Photography

Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor supports higher ISO and longer shutter speeds to get usable images in dim conditions, though full astrophotography requires larger sensors or tripod use.

Panasonic’s CCD struggles beyond ISO 400, limiting night work.

Video Capabilities: Modest But Useful

Video remains functional but not flagship-level on either camera.

• Panasonic ZS5 shoots 720p at 30fps, encoded in Motion JPEG, which is outdated with large files and lower detail.
• Sony HX300 offers Full HD 1080p at 60fps, with HDMI output for external monitoring.

Neither provide microphone inputs or advanced stabilization modes.

For casual video usage, Sony’s specs edge out Panasonic for smoother, detailed footage.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Neither camera excels in wireless connectivity, lacking Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth.

Storage relies on single SD/SDHC/SDXC cards across both.

Battery life is typical for their class but not remarkable - expect to carry spares for day trips.

USB 2.0 ports provide only data transfer, no tethered shooting.

Price and Value: An Honest Look

As of their last production, Panasonic ZS5 traded around $300 new; Sony HX300 was $340.

Considering features, the Sony offers more bang for your buck in zoom reach, resolution, and versatility.

But on the used market, ZS5’s compact form factor might appeal for travel photographers on a strict budget.

Side-by-Side Comparison at a Glance

Panasonic ZS5 front Panasonic ZS5 screen back Sony HX300 front Sony HX300 screen back

Final Thoughts: Tailoring Your Choice to Your Needs

Who should buy the Panasonic Lumix ZS5?

• You prioritize a compact, pocket-sized travel camera that fits effortlessly in your hand or bag.
• You shoot portraits or street photography where warm color rendition and face detection refine your results.
• You don’t need extreme telephoto reach or fast shooting speed.
• You prefer a simplified interface focused on casual to advanced snapshot photography.

Who benefits from the Sony Cyber-shot HX300?

• You want maximum zoom reach to capture distant subjects without changing lenses, vital for wildlife or surveillance.
• You need faster autofocus and shooting speeds for action or sports.
• You appreciate having an electronic viewfinder and flexible controls on a bridge-style body.
• Video at Full HD and better low-light capability factor into your decision.
• You don’t mind carrying a larger, heavier camera for these advantages.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

In Closing

Both the Panasonic Lumix ZS5 and Sony Cyber-shot HX300 represent compelling options in the small sensor superzoom market, but aimed at quite different photographer profiles. The ZS5’s compact form and pleasing colors suit casual travel and street shooters who prioritize portability. The HX300’s enormous zoom range, faster operation, and feature set shine for enthusiasts needing reach and flexibility at a reasonable price.

If you asked me which to pack for a weekend city trip with minimal gear, I’d grab the ZS5 for its slender size. But if my mission involved birding, sports events, or detailed landscape exploration, the HX300’s capabilities would win out hands down.

Ultimately, the best camera is the one that fits your shooting style, priorities, and budget. I hope this detailed comparison clarifies their distinctions and helps you decide which superzoom workhorse will best inspire your next photographic adventure. Should you have further questions on either model or want suggestions on alternatives, I’m happy to share more from my extensive experience in the compact superzoom arena.

Happy shooting!