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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2018
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Panasonic ZS5 versus Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the ZS5 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS5 was brought out 9 years prior to the HX99 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the ZS5 matches up against the HX99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Sony HX99

 ZS5 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Panasonic ZS5

 HX99 ZS5 
LaunchedSeptember 2018June 2010Fresher by 99 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.00"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX99

 ZS5 HX99 

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS5 provides external measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony HX99 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS5 versus Sony HX99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS5 against the HX99.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS5 and HX99 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS5 and HX99.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS5 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony HX99 will give you extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older ZS5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Portrait photography camera
27
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
53
you can focus manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (214g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (242g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography info
Sony HX99 Sports photography info
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
58
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
MP count decent (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (360 CIPA)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
Sony HX99 Travel photography factors
63
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
76
better than average battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (242g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX99 Landscape photography advice
33
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
58
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3.00 inches)
has image stabilization
MP count decent (18MP)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (360 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging details
Sony HX99 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
76
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others in class (242g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Sony HX99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-06-16 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3.00 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 214 gr (0.47 pounds) 242 gr (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 360 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $300 $469