Panasonic S1H vs Sony A500

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic S1H versus Sony A500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the S1H (24MP) and A500 (12MP) and the S1H (Full frame) and A500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The S1H was released 10 years later than the A500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic S1H being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the S1H scores against the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic S1H Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic S1H has exterior dimensions of 151mm x 114mm x 110mm (5.9" x 4.5" x 4.3") with a weight of 1052 grams (2.32 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic S1H versus Sony A500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the S1H versus the A500.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the S1H and A500 is 52 and 63 respectively.

Usually, its tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the S1H and A500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The S1H due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic S1H will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher S1H is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.