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Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
26
Overall
33
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs

Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Announced January 2013
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Successor is Sony A6000
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Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic XS1 versus Sony NEX-6, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the XS1 (16MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the XS1 (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The XS1 was introduced 2 months before the NEX-6 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the XS1 grades versus the NEX-6 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Sony NEX-6

 XS1 NEX-6 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Panasonic XS1

 NEX-6 XS1 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic XS1 and Sony NEX-6

 XS1 NEX-6 
LaunchedJanuary 2013March 2013Same generation
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic XS1 features exterior dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) while the Sony NEX-6 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic XS1 versus Sony NEX-6 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the XS1 against the NEX-6.

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XS1 and NEX-6 is 97 and 85 respectively.

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out technical specs. The visual below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the XS1 and NEX-6.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The XS1 includes the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow DOF more difficult.

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography info
30
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic XS1
Street photography with Sony NEX-6
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
78
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
66
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-6 Travel photography info
69
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
75
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography info
38
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic XS1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-6 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
32
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (345g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no microphone support
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Panasonic XS1 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic XS1 and Sony NEX-6
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2013-01-07 2013-03-25
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 99
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.40 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 103 gr (0.23 lbs) 345 gr (0.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1018
Other
Battery life 260 images 360 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $130 $365