Panasonic S1 vs Sony A390

The following is a extended analysis of the Panasonic S1 versus Sony A390, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the S1 (24MP) and A390 (14MP) and the S1 (Full frame) and A390 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The S1 was revealed 8 years after the A390 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the S1 scores against the A390 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic S1 Gallery and Sony A390 Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic S1 provides exterior dimensions of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") having a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) and the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S1 versus Sony A390 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the S1 and the A390.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and A390 is 54 and 66 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S1 and A390.

As you can tell, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S1 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic S1 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The fresher S1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.