Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A390

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic ZS200 and Sony A390, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS200 (20MP) and A390 (14MP) and the ZS200 (1") and A390 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The ZS200 was released 7 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the ZS200 scores versus the A390 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS200 Gallery & Sony A390 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS200 enjoys physical measurements of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") with a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony A390 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS200 and Sony A390 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS200 compared to the A390.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS200 and A390 is 86 and 66 respectively.

Typically, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS200 and A390.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS200 because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Panasonic ZS200 will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher ZS200 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.