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Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Panasonic ZS50

12 MP | 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic ZS45

16 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing ZS50 and ZS45, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by Panasonic. Panasonic ZS50 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Panasonic ZS45 was launched in January 2015. Both ZS50 and ZS45 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic ZS50 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-01-06
  • 12MP - 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1166k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 243g. 111 x 65 x 34 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Compare

Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-01-06
  • 16MP - 1/2.33' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 24-480 mm F3.3-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 249g. 108 x 60 x 32 mm
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Compare

Panasonic ZS50 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 (Lumix DMC-TZ70)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 (Lumix DMC-TZ57)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Number of Focus Points
23 vs 21 2 more focus points
Weight
243 g vs 249 g 6 g lighter
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 480mm 240 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30x vs 20× more flexible focal coverage
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.74µm2 34% larger pixel area
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK ZS50 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Battery Life
350 shots vs 300 shots 50 more frames with a single charge
CHECK ZS45 PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 480mm Very good Telezoom
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
6.40 vs 6.40 Slow lenses at tele
Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic ZS50 has external dimensions of 111 x 65 x 34 mm (4.37 x 2.56 x 1.34″) and weighs 243 g (0.54 lb / 8.57 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic ZS45 has external dimensions of 108 x 60 x 32 mm (4.25 x 2.36 x 1.26″) and weighs 249 g (0.55 lb / 8.78 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45. Panasonic ZS45 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 3mm narrower, 5mm shorter and 2mm thinner than Panasonic ZS50.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45.
Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic ZS50 is 6g lighter than the Panasonic ZS45 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS50
ZS45
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

ZS50
ZS45
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 (Lumix DMC-TZ70) nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 (Lumix DMC-TZ57) provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

On the other hand, Panasonic ZS45 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Panasonic ZS50 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to ZS45.
Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS45 has a 16.0MP 1/2.33' (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the ZS50 and ZS45 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 Cameras


Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45 Lens Specs Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30x zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS45 features a 24-480 mm F3.3-6.4 20× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm and have the same max aperture of f3.30 at this focal length. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS50 has 240mm longer reach than the Panasonic ZS45. Both cameras has a max aperture of f6.40 at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

ZS50
ZS45
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

ZS50
ZS45
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

ZS50
ZS45
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

ZS50
ZS45
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic ZS50 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS45 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic ZS50 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Panasonic ZS45 for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Panasonic ZS50 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS45 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
21 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
480 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Panasonic ZS50 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS45 for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
243g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details
Compact Body
249g
20.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Panasonic ZS50 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS45 for Landscape Photography

POOR
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS45: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic ZS50 and Panasonic ZS45 scores compare:

Panasonic ZS50
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #20 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #350 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Panasonic ZS45
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #103 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #609 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS50 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic ZS45 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic ZS50
Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic ZS45
Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Announced 2015-01-06 2015-01-06
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3 1/2.33'
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 28.07mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 23 21
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-720 mm (30x) 24-480 mm (20×)
Max Aperture F3.3-6.4 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range 3cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder Resolution 1,166k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.40 m 6.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 243g 249g
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm 108 x 60 x 32mm
Battery Life 300 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 44 not tested
DxO Color Depth 20.0 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 11.2 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 138 not tested
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