• 1/2.33 inch 28.2mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 20.4 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Panasonic DMC-ZR1 advantages over Sony HX300

  • Less expensive
    $280 vs $500 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 1.53 vs 1.19 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Thinner
    26 mm vs 103 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    160g vs 656g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony HX300 advantages over Panasonic DMC-ZR1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/2.8 vs f/3.3
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • More telephoto lens reach
    1,200 mm vs 200 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    20.4 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 2.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Panasonic DMC-ZR1

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Buy the Sony HX300
Sony HX300

Review Excerpt

  • Super-versatile 50x optical zoom lens helps you capture everything from wide-angle cityscapes to zoomed in portraits from what feels like a mile away; Still quite light and portable considering the powerful lens; Comfortable and ergonomic design; Full HD video recording at up to 60p, with good quality.

  • Relatively small, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor delivers average image quality that degrades quickly at high sensitivities; Images not as sharp or as bright at full telephoto as we had hoped; Slow camera to use overall.

  • Read our Sony HX300 Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-FH20

Panasonic DMC-ZR1
Panasonic DMC-FH20
  • $280
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Wider angle lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $180
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More pixels

Compare Panasonic DMC-ZR1 vs Panasonic DMC-FH20

Sony HX300
Panasonic DMC-FH20
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $180
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony HX300 vs Panasonic DMC-FH20

Compared to Panasonic DMC-ZR3

Panasonic DMC-ZR1
Panasonic DMC-ZR3
  • $280
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $236
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • HDMI out
  • More pixels

Compare Panasonic DMC-ZR1 vs Panasonic DMC-ZR3

Sony HX300
Panasonic DMC-ZR3
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $236
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony HX300 vs Panasonic DMC-ZR3

Compared to Fujifilm JZ500

Panasonic DMC-ZR1
Fujifilm JZ500
  • $280
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Manual focus
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Shoots 24p video

Compare Panasonic DMC-ZR1 vs Fujifilm JZ500

Sony HX300
Fujifilm JZ500
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony HX300 vs Fujifilm JZ500

Compared to Fujifilm SL1000

Panasonic DMC-ZR1
Fujifilm SL1000
  • $280
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner
  • $650
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic DMC-ZR1 vs Fujifilm SL1000

Sony HX300
Fujifilm SL1000
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • More pixels
  • $650
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • RAW file ability

Compare Sony HX300 vs Fujifilm SL1000

Compared to Sony HX400V

Panasonic DMC-ZR1
Sony HX400V
  • $280
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Thinner
  • $448
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Panasonic DMC-ZR1 vs Sony HX400V

Sony HX300
Sony HX400V
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • $448
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Sony HX300 vs Sony HX400V

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