Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550

Below is a extensive overview of the Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and A550 (14MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The GX9 was released 8 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the GX9 matches up against the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic GX9 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX9 has got outside measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") and a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the GX9 against the A550.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX9 and A550 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GX9 and A550.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX9 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic GX9 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer GX9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.