Panasonic ZS200 vs Sony A77

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZS200 versus Sony A77, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS200 (20MP) and the A77 (24MP) is very close but the ZS200 (1") and A77 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS200 was unveiled 6 years after the A77 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the ZS200 matches up against the A77 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 and Sony SLT-A77. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS200 Gallery and Sony A77 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS200 has exterior measurements of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") and a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS200 versus Sony A77 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the ZS200 vs the A77.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS200 and A77 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The pic underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS200 and A77.

All in all, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS200 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A77 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent ZS200 will have an edge in sensor innovation.