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Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Comparison

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Sony WX300

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony WX300
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Panasonic ZS50

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic ZS50
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Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing WX300 and ZS50, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Sony and Panasonic. Both cameras have 1/2.3" sensors but Sony WX300 has a 18.0 MP and Panasonic ZS50 has a 12.0 MP resolution. Sony WX300 was introduced to market in February 2013 and Panasonic ZS50 was launched in January 2015. There is 23 months difference between WX300 and ZS50 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger ZS50, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony WX300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-20
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 25-500 mm F3.5-6.5 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 166g. 96 x 55 x 25 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" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1166k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0 fps 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

Sony WX300 was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 (Lumix DMC-TZ70)

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-WX300

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Max Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 12 MP 50% more pixels
Weight
166 g vs 243 g 77 g lighter


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 460k dots 126% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1600s faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 500mm 220 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30x vs 20× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.30 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
6.40 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.4m vs 4.3m 2.1m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2 49% larger pixel area
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

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
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
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Focal Length - Tele
500mm vs 720mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 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
Max Aperture - Tele
6.50 vs 6.40 Slow lenses at tele
Sony WX300 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 WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony WX300 has external dimensions of 96 x 55 x 25 mm (3.78 x 2.16 x 0.98″) and weighs 166 g (0.37 lb / 5.86 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 WX300 and Panasonic ZS50. Sony WX300 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 15mm narrower, 10mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Panasonic ZS50.

Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50.
Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony WX300 is significantly lighter (77g ) than the Panasonic ZS50 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

WX300
ZS50
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

WX300
ZS50
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 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

Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50: Sensor Comparison

Sony WX300 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS50 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Sony WX300's sensor provides 6MP more than Panasonic ZS50's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the WX300 and ZS50 sensor size comparison.

Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 Cameras


Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Panasonic ZS50 has 49% larger pixel area (2.34µm2 vs 1.56µm2) compared to Sony WX300, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Sony WX300 vs Panasonic ZS50 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony WX300 features a 25-500 mm F3.5-6.5 20× zoom lens whereas Panasonic ZS50 features a 24-720 mm F3.3-6.4 30x zoom lens.

Panasonic ZS50 has 1mm wider coverage than the Sony WX300. At f3.30, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic ZS50 has 220mm longer reach than the Sony WX300. At f6.40, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

WX300
ZS50
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WX300
ZS50
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WX300
ZS50
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

WX300
ZS50
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Sony WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony WX300 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 WX300 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS50 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
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" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony WX300 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic ZS50 for Street Photography

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

Sony WX300 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS50 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
500 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
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 WX300 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic ZS50 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
166g
20.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
243g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Read the details

Sony WX300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic ZS50 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony WX300 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 WX300 and Panasonic ZS50, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 WX300 and Panasonic ZS50 scores compare:

Sony WX300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #270 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #878 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Panasonic ZS50
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #17 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #328 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Panasonic ZS50 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony WX300 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony WX300. Otherwise, Panasonic ZS50 is the better camera overall.

Sony WX300
Sony WX300
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Panasonic ZS50
Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Sony WX300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Brand Sony Panasonic
Announced 2013-02-20 2015-01-06
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 18 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 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 n/a 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-500 mm (20×) 24-720 mm (30x)
Max Aperture F3.5-6.5 F3.3-6.4
Macro Focus Range n/a 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 460k 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 1/1600s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.30 m 6.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 166g 243g
Dimensions 96 x 55 x 25mm 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
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