Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS50 Comparison

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Sony S930

10 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

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Panasonic ZS50

12 MP | 1/2.3 CMOS Sensor

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Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS50 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing S930 and ZS50, two Compact cameras from Sony and Panasonic. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera.

Sony S930 was introduced to market in January 2009 and Panasonic ZS50 was launched in January 2015. As you can see, S930 is 6 years older than ZS50. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony S930 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-01-08

10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

38-108 mm F2.9-5.4 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.40" Fixed Type Screen

2.0fps continuous shooting

- 320 x 240 video resolution

167g. 90 x 61 x 26 mm

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 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50

Weight	167 g vs 243 g	76 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	2.90 vs 3.30	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.40 vs 6.40	faster lens at tele

CHECK S930 PRICE

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
Viewfinder	Electronic vs None	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 10 MP	19% more pixels
Max ISO	6.400 vs 3.200	100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points	23 vs 9	14 more focus points
LCD Screen Size	3 vs 2.4"	0.6 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	1.040k dots vs 112k dots	826% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 2.0fps	8 fps faster
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 38mm	14 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	720mm vs 108mm	612 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	30x vs 2.8×	more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage	6.4m vs 3.0m	3.4m longer range
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 320 x 240	Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

CHECK ZS50 PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50

Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes

Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS50: 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 Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony S930 has external dimensions of 90 x 61 x 26 mm (3.54 x 2.4 x 1.02″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries). 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).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50. Sony S930 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 21mm narrower, 4mm shorter and 8mm thinner than Panasonic ZS50.

Comparison image of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony S930 is significantly lighter (76g ) than the Panasonic ZS50 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S930

ZS50

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S930

ZS50

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 (Lumix DMC-TZ70) 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's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony S930's 2.4" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS50: Sensor Comparison

Sony S930 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS50 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S930 and ZS50 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 Cameras

Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS50 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony S930 features a 38-108 mm F2.9-5.4 2.8× zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS50 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30x zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS50 has 14mm wider coverage than the Sony S930. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.90, Sony S930 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS50 has 612mm longer telezoom reach than the Sony S930. However, with a max aperture of f5.40, Sony S930 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S930

ZS50

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S930

ZS50

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S930

ZS50

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S930

ZS50

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 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.

Sony S930 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS50 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

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

Sony S930 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS50 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

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

Sony S930 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS50 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
108 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

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

Sony S930 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS50 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
167g
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
2.8X Optical Zoom
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
243g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
Read the details

Sony S930 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS50 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

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

Sony S930 vs Panasonic ZS50: 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 Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50, 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 Sony S930 and Panasonic ZS50 scores compare:

Sony S930

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #415 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1126 out of 1242 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS50

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #20 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #347 out of 1242 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS50 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony S930 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony S930. Otherwise, Panasonic ZS50 is the better camera overall.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony S930 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Brand	Sony	Panasonic
Announced	2009-01-08	2015-01-06
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3648 x 2736	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	80 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	9	23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	38-108 mm (2.8×)	24-720 mm (30x)
Max Aperture	F2.9-5.4	F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range	5cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.40"	3.00"
Resolution	112k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder	1,166k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a	0.46x
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	3.00 m (Auto ISO)	6.40 m
Max Flash Sync	s	n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 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	320 x 240	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	167g	243g
Dimensions	90 x 61 x 26mm	111 x 65 x 34mm
Battery Life	n/a	300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	44
DxO Color Depth	not tested	20.0
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	11.2
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	138
	Report a correction	Report a correction