Clicky

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic ZS5 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS5 (12MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The ZS5 was unveiled 5 years before the WX500 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the ZS5 matches up vs the WX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Sony WX500

 ZS5 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Panasonic ZS5

 WX500 ZS5 
AnnouncedApril 2015June 2010More modern by 58 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS5 and Sony WX500

 ZS5 WX500 
Manual focus No manual focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS5 has outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS5 versus Sony WX500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the ZS5 vs the WX500.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS5 and WX500 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The pic underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS5 and WX500.

Plainly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony WX500 to offer you more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged ZS5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX500 Portrait photography highlights
27
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
39
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Street photography advice
Sony WX500 Street photography advice
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (214 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (236g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
Sports photography with Sony WX500
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competitors in class (214 grams)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
great battery power (360 per charge)
lighter than average (236g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX500 Landscape photography advice
33
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
49
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
great battery power (360 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX500 as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
35
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (236g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS5 and Sony WX500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ8 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-06-16 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II Bionz X
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 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1300s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 214g (0.47 lb) 236g (0.52 lb)
Physical 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 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 - 360 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $300 $348