Panasonic XS1 vs Sony A560

On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic XS1 vs Sony A560, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XS1 (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is pretty close but the XS1 (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The XS1 was unveiled 2 years after the A560 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the XS1 scores against the A560 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic XS1 Gallery & Sony A560 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic XS1 offers external measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") having a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) and the Sony A560 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic XS1 vs Sony A560 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the XS1 compared to the A560.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XS1 and A560 is 97 and 64 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the XS1 and A560.

As you can see, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XS1 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic XS1 will render greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger XS1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.