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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS60
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Launched March 2016
  • Old Model is Sony RX10 II
  • Successor is Sony RX10 IV
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS50 and Sony RX10 III, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and RX10 III (20MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") feature different sensor measurements.

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The ZS50 was announced 14 months before the RX10 III making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the ZS50 scores vs the RX10 III when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Sony RX10 III

 ZS50 RX10 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Panasonic ZS50

 RX10 III ZS50 
LaunchedMarch 2016January 2015More modern by 14 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k1040kCrisper display (+189k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Sony RX10 III

 ZS50 RX10 III 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS50 has got exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony RX10 III has measurements of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") having a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS50 and Sony RX10 III in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS50 vs the RX10 III.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS50 and RX10 III is 90 and 53 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The pic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS50 and RX10 III.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS50 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony RX10 III will produce greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged ZS50 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography factors
Sony RX10 III Street photography factors
68
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (243g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
64
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
environment sealing
heavier than competition in class (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography factors
Sony RX10 III Sports photography factors
43
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
70
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery power (420 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography advice
Sony RX10 III Travel photography advice
66
lighter than average in class (243 grams)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
55
great battery power (420 CIPA)
environment sealing
good megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (1,051g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography information
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography information
51
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
63
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
environment sealing
great battery power (420 per charge)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 III as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (243g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
28
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (1,051g)
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Sony RX10 III
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-01-06 2016-03-29
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 243g (0.54 lbs) 1051g (2.32 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 44 70
DXO Color Depth score 20.0 23.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 12.6
DXO Low light score 138 472
Other
Battery life 300 shots 420 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $1,398