Panasonic ZS80 vs Sony NEX-5R

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony NEX-5R, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS80 (20MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the ZS80 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS80 was unveiled 5 years after the NEX-5R which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the ZS80 scores vs the NEX-5R in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 and Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS80 Gallery and Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS80 offers physical 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 NEX-5R has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS80 and Sony NEX-5R in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the ZS80 vs the NEX-5R.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS80 and NEX-5R is 86 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS80 and NEX-5R.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS80 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic ZS80 will provide you with more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher ZS80 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.