Panasonic XS1 vs Sony A390

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic XS1 and Sony A390, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XS1 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is very close but the XS1 (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The XS1 was manufactured 2 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the XS1 grades versus the A390 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic XS1 Gallery & Sony A390 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic XS1 has got physical dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") and a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Panasonic XS1 and Sony A390 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the XS1 compared to the A390.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XS1 and A390 is 97 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the XS1 and A390.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The XS1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic XS1 will render greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent XS1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.