Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

60

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

55

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
Weight
Light-weight
367 g
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
True resolution Much higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 8.1 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm vs 1/2.7" 5.6x4.2mm
Help
Around 20% larger sensor
Wide angle Better wide angle 27 mm vs 28 mm
Help
Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Weight Significantly lighter 367 g vs 544 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 118x76x89 mm vs 115x83x92 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 3.5" vs 3.6"
Help
Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX1

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1440 x 1080 @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution standard resolution video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Zoom Slightly more zoom 20x vs 18x
Help
More than 20% more zoom
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The DSC-HX1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $355.00 vs $560.83
Help
The best price we've seen is $206 cheaper (around 40% less)
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
55 vs 60
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Zoom Great zoom Help
DMC-FZ38:18x
DSC-HX1:20x
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
DMC-FZ38:60s
DSC-HX1:30s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
DMC-FZ38:$560.83
DSC-HX1:$355.00
Thickness Quite thick Help
DMC-FZ38:3.5"
DSC-HX1:3.6"
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-FZ38:367 g
DSC-HX1:544 g
Size Large Help
DMC-FZ38:118x76x89 mm
DSC-HX1:115x83x92 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Zoom Poor zoom Help
DMC-FZ38:18x
DSC-HX1:20x
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
DMC-FZ38:27 mm
DSC-HX1:28 mm

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Super zoom

$285

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215

Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom

$136 - $151

Lowest price Is significantly less expensive
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Super zoom

$366 - $450

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom More zoom
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Slightly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$611

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Larger

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

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