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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 II front
Portability
62
Imaging
64
Features
85
Overall
72

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(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
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Sony A77 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 647g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced May 2014
  • Replaced the Sony A77
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and A77 II (24MP) and the ZR1 (1/2.3") and A77 II (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The ZR1 was announced 5 years before the A77 II and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A77 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the ZR1 scores versus the A77 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Sony A77 II

 ZR1 A77 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 II over the Panasonic ZR1

 A77 II ZR1 
IntroducedMay 2014July 2009More recent by 58 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A77 II

 ZR1 A77 II 
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZR1 enjoys outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 II has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 647 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZR1 vs the A77 II.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR1 and A77 II is 94 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The photograph here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZR1 and A77 II.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZR1 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony A77 II will give more detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older ZR1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A77 II as a Portrait photography camera
20
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
78
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography highlights
Sony A77 II Street photography highlights
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
76
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography features
Sony A77 II Sports photography features
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
Travel photography with Sony A77 II
57
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
64
weather proof
good megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse function
not so great battery life (480 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR1
Landscape photography with Sony A77 II
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery life (480 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZR1
Vlogging with Sony A77 II
28
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
77
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Sony A77 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Sony A77 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Sony SLT-A77 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Sony SLT-A77 II
Also called Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-27 2014-05-21
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine V Bionz X
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 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 80 50
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 79
Cross focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.10 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, fill, rear sync, slow sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158 gr (0.35 lbs) 647 gr (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1013
Other
Battery life - 480 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $280 $1,198