Panasonic S1 vs Sony A290

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic S1 vs Sony A290, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the S1 (24MP) and A290 (14MP) and the S1 (Full frame) and A290 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The S1 was brought out 8 years after the A290 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the S1 grades vs the A290 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic S1 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S1 offers outside measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") with a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) while the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S1 vs Sony A290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the S1 vs the A290.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the S1 and A290 is 54 and 66 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S1 and A290.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The S1 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic S1 will give you extra detail having its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent S1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.