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Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
66
Overall
58
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS200
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 340g - 111 x 66 x 45mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DC-TZ200
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS100
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
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Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS200 and Sony A6500, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS200 (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is pretty close but the ZS200 (1") and A6500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS200 was released 17 months later than the A6500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the ZS200 scores versus the A6500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS200 over the Sony A6500

 ZS200 A6500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018October 2016Fresher by 17 months
Screen resolution1240k922kSharper screen (+318k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic ZS200

 A6500 ZS200 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic ZS200 and Sony A6500

 ZS200 A6500 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS200 has got outside measurements of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") along with a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS200 and Sony A6500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS200 against the A6500.

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZS200 and A6500 is 86 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS200 and A6500.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS200 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A6500 will render more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger ZS200 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS200 Portrait photography advice
Sony A6500 Portrait photography advice
65
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS200 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
77
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
no articulating screen
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS200 Sports photography info
Sony A6500 Sports photography info
70
great zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports tracking focus
great battery (370 shots)
no phase detect AF
77
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS200
Travel photography with Sony A6500
76
great battery (370 per charge)
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (360mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
74
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
MP count good (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS200 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
70
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
great battery (370 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS200 Vlogging advice
Sony A6500 Vlogging advice
35
rather wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
39
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS200 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 Sony Alpha a6500
Otherwise known as Lumix DC-TZ200 -
Type Large Sensor Compact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2018-02-13 2016-10-06
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 49 425
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-360mm (15.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,240 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,330 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m (at Auto ISO) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 340 grams (0.75 lbs) 453 grams (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 66 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 370 images 350 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $800 $1,298