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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Introduced April 2017
  • New Model is Sony A9 II
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A9, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and A9 (24MP) and the ZR1 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) posses different sensor size.

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The ZR1 was brought out 8 years prior to the A9 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the ZR1 matches up vs the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Sony A9

 ZR1 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Panasonic ZR1

 A9 ZR1 
IntroducedApril 2017July 2009Newer by 94 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kCrisper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A9

 ZR1 A9 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZR1 has physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A9 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the ZR1 against the A9.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR1 and A9 is 94 and 65 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The pic underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR1 and A9.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZR1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A9 will give extra detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged ZR1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography details
Sony A9 Portrait photography details
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
84
manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography info
Sony A9 Street photography info
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
environment proof
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography info
Sony A9 Sports photography info
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
Travel photography with Sony A9
57
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
74
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
environment proof
has bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
86
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
2 card slots
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 Vlogging highlights
28
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
37
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A9
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony Alpha A9
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-27 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine V BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 693
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 lbs) 673g (1.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Two
Price at launch $280 $4,498