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Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
68
Features
88
Overall
76

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Released January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS3
  • Successor is Panasonic TS5
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Overview

Below is a thorough analysis of the Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the TS4 (12MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TS4 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The TS4 was released 10 months earlier than the A99 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the TS4 scores vs the A99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Sony A99

 TS4 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Panasonic TS4

 A99 TS4 
AnnouncedDecember 2012January 2012More recent by 10 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic TS4 and Sony A99

 TS4 A99 
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic TS4 has got exterior measurements of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the TS4 vs the A99.

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TS4 and A99 is 92 and 57 respectively.

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The photograph below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TS4 and A99.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TS4 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A99 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older TS4 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic TS4 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
80
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic TS4
Street photography with Sony A99
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic TS4 Sports photography info
Sony A99 Sports photography info
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery life (310 CIPA)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
77
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic TS4 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A99 as a Travel photography camera
66
great battery life (310 CIPA)
weather proofing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
environment sealing
good megapixels (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic TS4 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
41
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
great battery life (310 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic TS4
Vlogging with Sony A99
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
76
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
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Panasonic TS4 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic TS4 and Sony A99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 Sony SLT-A99
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FT4 -
Type Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-01-31 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-128mm (4.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1300 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 197 gr (0.43 lbs) 812 gr (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 310 images 500 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One Dual
Pricing at release $399 $1,998