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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Launched June 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Panasonic ZS5 versus Sony WX30, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS5 was brought out 13 months earlier than the WX30 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the ZS5 scores vs the WX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Sony WX30

 ZS5 WX30 

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Panasonic ZS5

 WX30 ZS5 
ReleasedJuly 2011June 2010Fresher by 13 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony WX30

 ZS5 WX30 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS5 provides exterior dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony WX30 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS5 versus Sony WX30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS5 compared to the WX30.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and WX30 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS5 and WX30.

Clearly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony WX30 to result in extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older ZS5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography advice
Sony WX30 Portrait photography advice
27
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
29
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography information
Sony WX30 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography details
Sony WX30 Sports photography details
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competition (214 grams)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
68
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography details
Sony WX30 Landscape photography details
33
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse function
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging advice
Sony WX30 Vlogging advice
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition (214 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Sony WX30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-16 2011-07-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1300 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 3.70 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 metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214g (0.47 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 - 250 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $300 $259