Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A500
Portability
94 Imaging
34 Features
17 Overall
27
94 Imaging
34 Features
17 Overall
27
Portability
63 Imaging
52 Features
52 Overall
52
63 Imaging
52 Features
52 Overall
52
Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A500 Key Specs
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- 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
- Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Sony A500
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 12MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Announced August 2009
- New Model is Sony A560
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Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZR1 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively close but the ZR1 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) use different sensor sizes.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe ZR1 was unveiled within a month of the A500 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the ZR1 grades against the A500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZR1 Gallery & Sony A500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Sony A500
| ZR1 | A500 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic ZR1
| A500 | ZR1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus |  | Very exact focus | ||
| Screen type | Tilting |  | Fixed | Tilting screen |
| Screen dimension | 3" |  | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A500
| ZR1 | A500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | July 2009 |  | August 2009 | Same age |
| Screen resolution | 230k |  | 230k | Same screen resolution |
| Selfie screen |  | Neither provides selfie screen | ||
| Touch friendly screen |  | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR1 provides outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).
Analyze the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the ZR1 versus the A500.
Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ZR1 and A500 is 94 and 63 respectively.
Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing specs. The image here will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZR1 and A500.
All in all, both of these cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The ZR1 comes with the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF harder.
Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Glossary Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Panasonic ZR1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Panasonic ZR1 Street photography advice
Sony A500 Street photography advice
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (520 per charge)
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Panasonic ZR1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low battery life (520 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
low battery life (520 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging highlights
Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
no video recording
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A500 Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Panasonic | Sony |
| Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 |
| Also called as | Lumix DMC-ZX1 | - |
| Type | Small Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Launched | 2009-07-27 | 2009-08-27 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | Venus Engine V | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12MP | 12MP |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Peak resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4272 x 2848 |
| Highest native ISO | 6400 | 12800 |
| Lowest native ISO | 80 | 200 |
| RAW format | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Selective autofocus | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Autofocus live view | ||
| Face detect autofocus | ||
| Contract detect autofocus | ||
| Phase detect autofocus | ||
| Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Lens focal range | 25-200mm (8.0x) | - |
| Highest aperture | f/3.3-5.9 | - |
| Macro focus range | 3cm | - |
| Number of lenses | - | 143 |
| Crop factor | 5.9 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
| Display size | 2.7 inches | 3 inches |
| Resolution of display | 230k dots | 230k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch display | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
| Features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
| Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Continuous shutter rate | 2.0fps | 5.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Custom white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash range | 5.10 m | 12.00 m |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| 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 | None |
| Video format | Motion JPEG | - |
| Mic support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 158 grams (0.35 lbs) | 630 grams (1.39 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall score | not tested | 64 |
| DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 21.8 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.6 |
| DXO Low light score | not tested | 772 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 520 photos |
| Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | - | NP-FM500H |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC card, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Card slots | Single | Single |
| Cost at release | $280 | $638 |