Panasonic Lumix
DMC-ZS7
 vs
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-HX5

Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

76

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

71
"Very good image quality."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-ZS7's image-quality
"The 12x Lumix ZS7 offers a wide range of shooting options, great image quality, and a GPS for geo-tagging."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-ZS7's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-ZS7
Zoom More zoom 12x vs 10x
Help
 More than 40% more zoom
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9 MP
Help
 Capture around 10% more detail in your photos
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.3 vs f/3.5
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-ZS7's lens captures marginally more light (0.2 f-stops)
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
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
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 40% closer to the lens
Sensor size Larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm vs 1/2.5" 6.3x4.2mm
Help
 Around 10% larger sensor
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1600s
Help
 20% faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX5
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Size Smaller 102x58x29 mm vs 103x60x33 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
 Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The DSC-HX5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.3"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 200 g vs 218 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $251.00 vs $284.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $34 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
71 vs 76
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

PanasonicLumix DMC-ZS7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
1
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
0
1
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
1
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
0
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
25 mm
GPS Built-in GPS Help
Great for travel
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
DMC-ZS7:60s
DSC-HX5:30s
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-ZS7:218 g
DSC-HX5:200 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
DMC-ZS7:1.3"
DSC-HX5:1.1"
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Size Large Help
DMC-ZS7:103x60x33 mm
DSC-HX5:102x58x29 mm

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
High-speed framerate No high speed movie support Help
Not supported
Zoom Poor zoom Help
DMC-ZS7:12x
DSC-HX5:10x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom

$195 - $328
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$289 - $328
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8

Travel zoom

$170 - $271
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS8 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$130 - $233
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Size Is significantly smaller
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix F770 EXR

Travel zoom

$482 - $529
Zoom Has way more more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the FinePix F770 EXR vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the FinePix F770 EXR vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$219 - $304
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$369
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v

Travel zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Zoom Less zoom
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5v vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Travel zoom
GPS No built-in GPS
Weight Heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5

Travel zoom

$235 - $298
Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Slightly thinner
GPS No built-in GPS
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS5 vs the Lumix DMC-ZS7

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v

Travel zoom

$219 - $250
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-H70

Sony Cybershot H70

Travel zoom

$170 - $201
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Zoom Slightly more zoom
GPS No built-in GPS
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Cybershot H70 vs the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for speaklightly speaklightly (4:34 AM, March 31, 2010)
I originally purchased the ZS7 but was disappointed in it image quality, poor WB, and poor battery life. I returned the ZS7 and purchased the HX5 and am a happy camper.

Sarah Joyce
 
Avatar for christopherreid christopherreid (6:12 PM, March 14, 2010)
Indeed thanks for noting this. We don't yet note which cameras have GPS and its something thats on our list. With GPS and geo-tags the ZS7 (TZ10 in Europe) can identify over half a million locations out of the box. Very cool stuff. It pops the geolocation right in the image EXIF data for use with your favorite photo program - I know Picasa does geo-tagging via google earth so it likely supports geolocation with the Zs7. Its certainly one of the smallest superzooms and probably the smallest with GPS.

I also read that the 7S7 has improved image stabilization and AVCHD movie recording helps cut down on the size of your high def movies.
 
Avatar for dmczs7 dmczs7 (2:05 AM, March 14, 2010)
The Lumix has GPS support!