Panasonic XS1 vs Sony A6500

The following is a in-depth review of the Panasonic XS1 and Sony A6500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the XS1 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the XS1 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The XS1 was brought out 4 years prior to the A6500 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the XS1 matches up versus the A6500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 & Sony Alpha a6500. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic XS1 Gallery & Sony A6500 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic XS1 features external measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic XS1 and Sony A6500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the XS1 against the A6500.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XS1 and A6500 is 97 and 81 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the XS1 and A6500.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XS1 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A6500 will result in extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged XS1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.