Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony A550

Let's look closer at the Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the SZ1 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very similar but the SZ1 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ1 was revealed 2 years later than the A550 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SZ1 grades against the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic SZ1 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ1 has external dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic SZ1 vs Sony A550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SZ1 and the A550.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ1 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Often, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The photograph below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ1 and A550.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ1 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic SZ1 will offer more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The fresher SZ1 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.