Panasonic ZS5 vs Sony WX500: A Deep-Dive Comparison of Two Compact Superzoom Cameras

When I first began testing compact superzoom cameras over a decade ago, the appeal was clear: all-in-one versatility in a pocket-friendly package. Fast forward to today, and this category remains a favorite among casual shooters, travelers, and even some pros wanting a lightweight backup. Yet not all superzooms are created equal. So, how does the 2010-era Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 stack up against the more modern Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 launched five years later?

Having spent dozens of hours shooting side-by-side with these two compacts in various lighting and shooting conditions, I’m excited to unpack their differences with you. I’ll share candid insights on image quality, autofocus, usability, and more - from my hands-on experience in portrait studios, wilderness treks, and urban street shots. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast hunting for a capable travel companion, or a pro seeking a secondary compact with reach, I’ll guide you through the key trade-offs that matter on the ground.

Pocket Size Meets Ergonomics: Holding the Cameras

Let’s start with the basics - how these cameras feel in the hand and fit into your daily carry.

At first glance, both cameras fall solidly into the compact superzoom camp, designed for grab-and-go convenience. The Panasonic ZS5 measures roughly 103 x 60 x 32mm and weighs 214 grams. The Sony WX500 is a hair smaller in height and width (102 x 58 x 36mm) but slightly heavier at 236 grams, likely due to a more substantial battery and possibly its extended zoom lens assembly.

Despite similar overall footprints, the ZS5 feels a little chunkier front-to-back, which I actually found comforting when shooting for extended periods. The Sony’s slender profile and rounded edges make it sleek to pocket, but the grip is less pronounced. In my hand, the ZS5’s ergonomics favor those who want a bit more tactile security without adding bulk, while the WX500 skews towards minimalism and portability.

The control layout also reflects their eras and design philosophies.

The Panasonic’s buttons and dials are spaced out cleanly on top, providing quick access to shooting modes and exposure adjustments - I never struggled to change aperture priority or shutter speed on the fly. The Sony WX500 shares a more streamlined look but sacrifices some dedicated control, relying on menu systems and fewer physical buttons, which may slow you down if you’re used to manual tweaks. However, its notable advance is a tilting LCD screen, which I’ll discuss shortly.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

The heart of any camera is its sensor, and here’s where things start to diverge significantly.

The ZS5 employs a 1/2.3" CCD sensor, clocking 12 megapixels at a surface area of approximately 27.7 mm². CCD sensors were common in the earlier days of compact cameras but have since been eclipsed in performance by CMOS technology, especially BSI (Backside Illuminated) CMOS variants.

Enter the WX500, equipped with a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor at 18 megapixels, slightly larger in dimensions but same general class. This difference in sensor tech is crucial: BSI-CMOS sensors typically deliver better low-light performance, higher dynamic range, and faster readout speeds than CCDs, which translates into improved image quality under real-world conditions.

In practical terms, I witnessed the WX500 producing noticeably cleaner images at ISO 800 and above. Meanwhile, the ZS5’s images exhibited more noise and softer details once you pushed past ISO 400. The extra resolution on the Sony also allowed for more cropping flexibility and finer detail retention, especially visible in landscape shots with complex textures like foliage or cityscapes.

The Panasonic, however, holds its own when shooting in bright daylight at base ISO 80, delivering vibrant JPEGs with balanced colors and respectable sharpness given the camera’s age. Its proprietary Venus Engine HD II processor handles noise reduction reasonably well, though never quite matching the Sony’s more modern Bionz X engine.

LCD Screen and User Interface

For me, an often overlooked but vital element is the camera’s LCD and its usability under different shooting scenarios.

The ZS5 sports a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a modest 230k-dot resolution. By today’s standards, it’s quite undersized and low-res, making critical focus confirmation or reviewing details challenging. The screen’s lack of touch functionality or articulation meant awkward compositions in crowded or low-angle situations.

In contrast, the WX500 boasts a 3-inch tilting LCD panel with a sharp 921k-dot resolution. This not only facilitates easy framing from high or waist level - ideal for street or travel photography - but also makes menus and playback far more navigable. Although not touch-enabled, the crisp display significantly improves the shooting experience, especially in bright outdoor conditions.

Autofocus Performance: Speed and Accuracy

Autofocus (AF) capabilities often dictate whether a camera can capture fleeting moments or wildlife effectively.

Both cameras use contrast detection AF systems without phase detection or hybrid AF.

The ZS5 offers 11 focus points with face detection and tracking, including continuous AF modes. However, it’s no speed demon, yielding a modest 2 frames per second continuous shooting - which I quickly found limiting when attempting to capture quick action or wildlife behavior. AF acquisition was reliable in good light but noticeably sluggish in dim environments or with moving subjects.

On the other hand, the WX500 significantly advances continuous shooting to 10 fps, a boon for sports or rapidly changing scenes. Its custom AF areas and face detection notably improved tracking accuracy. Though still contrast-based, Sony’s autofocus algorithms felt faster and more confident during my tests, particularly under cloudy or shadowy conditions.

Neither camera includes eye autofocus or animal eye detection, a feature that is increasingly common on mid-range compacts and mirrorless cameras today - but the WX500’s improved AF system does a better job holding onto human faces.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities

Superzoom cameras live and die by the versatility of their zoom range.

The Panasonic ZS5 offers a 25-300mm equivalent zoom (12x optical), aperture f/3.3-4.9.

The Sony WX500 pushes boundary further with a 24-720mm equivalent (30x optical), aperture f/3.5-6.4.

This substantial difference means the Sony can reach subjects much farther away, opening doors for wildlife and sports photographers who want to shoot discreetly or at a distance without heavy gear. Image stabilization - optical in both cameras - helps mitigate shake, but note that the smaller aperture at the tele end on the WX500 (f/6.4) may challenge low-light handholding and autofocus reliability.

For macro shooters, the ZS5’s ability to focus as close as 3cm versus Sony’s 5cm offers slightly better close-up versatility - enough to capture small flowers or insects in detail, though neither is specialized macro gear.

Real-World Photography Tests

To understand how these specifications translate into images, I put both through their paces across a range of photographic situations.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Both cameras can perform decent portraits in good light, but the sensor and lens combination influenced my outcomes.

The Panasonic ZS5, with its wider aperture at the short zoom (f/3.3), produced creamy bokeh backgrounds when zoomed in moderately. Skin tones rendered naturally, although the CCD sensor’s dynamic range sometimes clipped highlights on bright skin or hair strands.

Sony’s WX500, despite its smaller aperture, maintained excellent detail and color saturation - likely a synergy of its BSI-CMOS sensor and advanced image processor. Its face detection AF consistently locked focus on eyes, delivering sharper portraits. However, bokeh was less pronounced due to smaller maximum apertures.

Panasonic ZS5 front Panasonic ZS5 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Landscape and Outdoor: Dynamic Range and Resolution

The higher megapixel count and improved sensor technology give the WX500 an edge in landscape shots. It captured vibrant skies with less noise in shadows and more editable detail in RAW-like JPEGs.

While the Panasonic handled bright-day scenes well, shadow recovery and highlight roll-off were more limited.

Neither camera offers RAW shooting, limiting post-processing latitude for professionals.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Rates

Attempting to photograph birds in flight with the ZS5 was a frustrating affair given its slow 2 fps burst and inconsistent AF tracking. The WX500 fared better - its 10 fps burst and more agile AF could freeze action and capture sequences more effectively.

Neither camera is designed as a professional sports camera but Sony’s model comes closer to satisfying spur-of-the-moment, fast-paced shooting in a compact shell.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

In busy urban environments, the WX500’s smaller size, tilting screen, and zoom versatility make it excellent for discreet shooting. The ZS5, while compact, felt a tad more conspicuous in my hand.

Both perform well under available light but low-light AF is better on the Sony.

Macro and Close-Ups

While neither camera is a specialized macro shooter, the ZS5’s slightly closer minimum focus distance gave it an edge photographing textures and small objects.

Night and Astro: High ISO and Exposure

In low-light and night sky conditions, the WX500’s higher native ISO ceiling (12800 vs. 6400 on the ZS5) and BSI-CMOS sensor deliver cleaner, more usable images.

The Panasonic’s CCD sensor struggles with noise beyond ISO 400 in dim environments, limiting its astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities

Video is a secondary feature for both, but usability varies.

The ZS5 offers HD video at 1280x720 (30fps) with Motion JPEG compression - an older, less efficient codec that creates large files and limits quality.

The WX500 jumps up to full HD 1080p offering 60p, 60i, 30p, and 24p formats using modern AVCHD and XAVC S codecs, allowing for smoother and higher-quality video.

Neither camera includes external microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither model offers environmental sealing, dustproofing, or waterproof features - a downside for travelers and outdoor photographers who need rugged reliability.

Build quality on both feels solid for compact cameras but they are best treated as delicate pocket tools rather than adventure cameras.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The ZS5 has no wireless features - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC. Transferring images means physically connecting via USB 2.0 or removing the memory card.

Sony’s WX500 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy image sharing and remote control from smartphones - a huge practical convenience for modern photographers.

Battery life also favors the WX500, rated around 360 shots per charge versus unspecified, likely shorter endurance on the ZS5’s older battery technology.

Storage and File Formats

Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Sony adds support for Memory Stick Duo and uses USB 2.0 for data transfer.

Neither supports RAW image capture, limiting appeal for serious image editing workflows.

Overall Performance Ratings and Value

After extensive hands-on testing:

The Sony WX500 outperforms the Panasonic ZS5 in nearly every key category - image quality, autofocus speed, zoom versatility, screen usability, and connectivity. The ZS5’s main strengths lie in its somewhat wider maximum aperture at short zoom range and compact, ergonomic bulk for steady handheld shooting.

Tailored Recommendations for Different Photographers

• Travel Photographers: Sony WX500 wins for reach, portability, and wireless sharing on the go.
• Wildlife Enthusiasts: WX500’s 30x zoom and faster burst rate make it the clear choice.
• Portrait Shooters: Both capable in good lighting, but WX500 offers sharper eye detection and larger resolution.
• Landscape Lovers: WX500 with higher resolution and dynamic range excels; however, ZS5 still handles basic scenes well.
• Street Photographers: WX500’s discreet size, tilting screen, and quick AF work well in busy environments.
• Macro Shooters: Panasonic ZS5’s close-focusing advantage could appeal for casual macro.
• Night/Astro Photographers: Sony WX500’s cleaner high-ISO performance offers better results.
• Video Creators: WX500 provides higher quality 1080p video with more frame rate options.
• Budget-Conscious Buyers: Panasonic ZS5’s lower price point appeals but expect compromises.

Conclusions: Which Compact Superzoom Should You Choose?

Reliability and image quality have come a long way since 2010. While the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 served its purpose as an early superzoom compact, technology advances embodied by the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 make the latter a more versatile and future-proof choice for most users today.

If you highly value ultra-long zoom reach, faster shooting, better low-light capability, and connectivity features, the Sony WX500 merits the slightly higher investment. Conversely, if you prioritize a simpler, ergonomically secure camera with moderate zoom and budget constraints, the Panasonic ZS5 is still competent for casual everyday photography.

In sum, I recommend firmly the Sony WX500 to enthusiasts and semi-pros seeking a dependable travel or general-purpose compact superzoom. The Panasonic ZS5 is a respectable entry-level alternative but somewhat limited for those demanding performance beyond snapshots.

Choosing between these two cameras ultimately hinges on your priorities: image quality, zoom capability, shooting speed, user interface, or budget. I hope my detailed field tests and technical insights have illuminated the strengths and weaknesses of each to inform your next camera purchase.

If you’re intrigued, check current pricing and consider renting or hands-on testing to see which aligns best with your photography style. And as always, happy shooting!