Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony A560

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony A560, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and A560 (14MP) and the ZS80 (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The ZS80 was brought out 7 years after the A560 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the ZS80 matches up versus the A560 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS80 Gallery & Sony A560 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS80 has got physical measurements of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") with a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony A560 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony A560 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS80 versus the A560.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS80 and A560 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Often, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by reading technical specs. The picture underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS80 and A560.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS80 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic ZS80 will deliver more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The newer ZS80 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.