Panasonic G1 vs Sony A550

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic G1 and Sony A550, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the G1 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the G1 (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The G1 was manufactured 10 months before the A550 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the G1 scores vs the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic G1 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic G1 has physical dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") along with a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic G1 and Sony A550 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the G1 against the A550.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G1 and A550 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the G1 and A550.

Plainly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The G1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A550 will give you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older G1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.