Panasonic S1 vs Sony A550

Below, we will be matching up the Panasonic S1 vs Sony A550, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the S1 (24MP) and A550 (14MP) and the S1 (Full frame) and A550 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The S1 was unveiled 9 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the S1 grades against the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic S1 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you are going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S1 enjoys physical measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") accompanied by a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) and the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic S1 vs Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the S1 compared to the A550.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and A550 is 54 and 63 respectively.

Often, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by viewing specifications. The graphic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the S1 and A550.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The S1 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic S1 will result in greater detail having an extra 10MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer S1 should have a benefit in sensor technology.