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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS70
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A200
  • Replacement is Sony A290
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic ZS80 versus Sony A230, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and A230 (10MP) and the ZS80 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS80 was introduced 8 years later than the A230 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ZS80 grades vs the A230 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Sony A230

 ZS80 A230 
IntroducedFebruary 2018May 2009Fresher by 107 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Panasonic ZS80

 A230 ZS80 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony A230

 ZS80 A230 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS80 features exterior dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS80 versus Sony A230 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the ZS80 vs the A230.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS80 and A230 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over specs. The photograph here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS80 and A230.

All in all, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The ZS80 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic ZS80 will offer more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger ZS80 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography information
Sony A230 Portrait photography information
54
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
54
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Street photography factors
Sony A230 Street photography factors
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
small sensor size (1/2.3")
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Sports photography info
Sony A230 Sports photography info
61
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
46
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
79
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
45
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (230 shots)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Landscape photography details
Sony A230 Landscape photography details
62
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
51
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS80 Vlogging info
Sony A230 Vlogging info
73
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of external mic jack
9
no video
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Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS80 and Sony A230
 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Also referred to as Lumix DC-TZ95 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-02-18 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,330k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m (with Auto ISO) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 327 gr (0.72 lb) 490 gr (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life 380 images 230 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $448 $569